Research Article Critique: The Professional Adjunct The Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration

The Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration (ojdla) is a peer-reviewed journal which publishes articles from practitioners or researchers “with specific focus or implications for the management of distance education programs” (ojdla, 2009, Mission section). The need to recruit, train, and retain qualified online instructors is a concern for administrators of distance learning programs. This research article critique focuses on Bedford’s (2009) ojdla article which presented her research into a new trend she identified in online instruction: the emergence of the full-time professional adjunct.

Statement of the Problem and Research Questions

Bedford (2009) stated that the rapid increase in students taking online courses in the United States creates a corresponding need for additional qualified online instructors. Full-time faculty are unable to meet this need which has led to the hiring of more adjuncts. Bedford argued that adjuncts cannot be seen as a homogenous group because there are a number of adjunct categories. Bedford focused her research on “a small but growing number of individuals who do not hold full-time jobs but rely on multiple adjunct positions to fulfill their professional needs” (2009, Introduction section, para. 1). She called this group ‘professional’ adjuncts, and she highlighted that not much empirical research has focused on the idea of the professional adjunct as a career choice. Bedford felt that professional adjuncts are an important group for distance learning administration to investigate further, as they offer a potential solution for the challenge of providing quality online instruction.

The research questions are not explicitly stated, but instead are suggested. Bedford (2009) wanted “to...

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http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/