Designing a Competency Model for Research Faculty Members in Humanities Research Institutes: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Customizing the Assessment Center

Soudabeh  Meyssamifard; Rahmatollah Gholipour Souteh; Ali Asghar  Pourezzat

doi:10.61838/eyjhkm50

Authors

Soudabeh Meyssamifard Department of Public Administration, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Kish Island, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2066-783X
Rahmatollah Gholipour Souteh Department of Strategy and Business Policy Making, Faculty of Business Management, College of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9081-1576
Ali Asghar Pourezzat Professor of Department of Public Policy and Administration, Faculty of Public Administration and Organizational Science, College of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1875-3479

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61838/eyjhkm50

Keywords:

Research faculty member competencies, assessment center, humanities research institutes, scientific-cultural identity, structural equation modeling, mixed-methods approach

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to design a competency model for recruiting research faculty members in humanities research institutes through the customization of an assessment center.

Methods and Materials: An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was employed in two qualitative and quantitative phases. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 key experts, including faculty members, research institute administrators, and human resource specialists. The conceptual competency model was extracted through thematic analysis. In the quantitative phase, the model was converted into a researcher-developed questionnaire. After its validity and reliability were confirmed, the questionnaire was distributed among 218 faculty members employed at humanities research institutes throughout Iran. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings: The findings demonstrated that the five-dimensional competency model, comprising individual, professional, behavioral, ethical, and cultural-ideological competencies, had strong construct validity. Hypothesis testing revealed two principal pathways: (1) the interactive pathway—individual and professional competencies → behavioral competencies → research performance—and (2) the cultural-ideological pathway—ethical competencies → cultural-ideological competencies → research performance. The most important finding was the strong predictive role of cultural-ideological competencies in research performance.

Conclusion: This result indicates that commitment to a cultural-Islamic identity is not merely an ethical value but also a critical factor in effective knowledge production. Based on these findings, an operational framework for a customized assessment center was developed, comprising five customization principles, five simulated scenarios, and 15 observable behavioral indicators.

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