Applied Public Health: Career Pathway and Current Profession

Applied Public Health

Table of Contents
Methodology .........................................................................................................................................3
Biographical details of participant.........................................................................................................4
Data Analysis ........................................................................................................................................5
Current position and role.......................................................................................................................6
Career Trajectory ..................................................................................................................................6
Advice for future ..................................................................................................................................7
References.............................................................................................................................................8
Appendices ...........................................................................................................................................8

Methodology
The research used a qualitative methodology based on the approach advocated by Jamshed
(2014). The study was conducted through a semi-structured interview that investigated a
university Allied Health lecturer’s career pathway and to understand how their past
experiences in Allied Health influenced their current profession (see Appendix A). The
interview was formed using open-ended question including intermediate leading questions.
The interview was completely voluntary and anonymous. The study provides an information
sheet detailing the purpose of the research study (refer to Appendix A) and a consent form
stating the confidentiality of the report (refer to Appendix B). The participant was an Allied
Health professional, lecturing as an Exercise Physiology.
The aim of this study was to conduct an interview based on a biological case study that the
knowledge of conducting a semi-structured interview while using qualitative research method
to interpret the findings. This method has shown to be effective because it enables probing
and comments to be made freely about the topic of interest. The participant could express
their perspective and views openly and discuss in an in-depth interview that collects profound
descriptive data using the respondent’s experience to detail their career pathway and current
profession (Tolley and et. al., 2016). Additionally, the researcher obtained verbal consent
from the participant and stated that all records will be destroyed at the conclusion of the
study.
This study used a qualitative method to understand the beliefs, behaviour, attitude and
interaction of the participant when asked questions about their profession and career pathway.
The interview took approximately 30 minutes and consisted of fourteen questions with
several intermediate leading questions in-between such as “oh great! and how has that
experience been for you?” etc to help the flow of the conversation.

In comparison to other research methods including surveys or questionnaires, observational
studies or case studies that usually require large groups or participants to state their opinions,
feelings privately without displaying them in front of the researcher (Research method).
Although, these types of research methods aren’t appropriate for this study because
participants wouldn’t be inclined to give honest views or feelings which could lead to false
conclusions for the researcher (Brownson & et. al., 2017).
The data was analysed using thematic analysis method that the themes in the transcribed data.
It was guided by a 6 steps process which helped identified the important themes in the
interview. Hence, possible themes observed were the participants motivations of increasing
his knowledge and reaching his potential of achieving the highest level of the degree (PHD)
then continuing to expand by developing a business to further persist in the degree. Another
possible theme is the participants value.
Biographical details of participant
The participant interviewed is a former lecturer in Clinical Exercise Physiology, also
subtitled the National Professional Practice Lead for Exercise Physiology. The participant has
work at the Australian Catholic University (Brisbane campus) for 18 months and has been the
National Professional Practice lead of 6 months. The participant relocated from Melbourne at
the end of 2017 and had no previous work-related history at ACU prior to being offered the
position as a lecturer. However, before moving to Brisbane the participant worked at Deakin
University as an associate lecturer for partnerships in Sports Science that took place in
Melbourne. Additionally, the participant was a certified Exercise Physiologist in private
practice during that same period (Nelson Staggers, 2016).
In September 2005 the participant got into a serious car incident towards the end of grade 12.
The participant sustained brutal injuries from the incident which took 3 months of inpatient
rehabilitation to strengthen his muscle and bone movements, then an additional 12 months of
outpatient rehab. According to the participant that experience of the inpatient and outpatient