Dissertation

Introduction

Dear participant,

I am a doctoral student at The George Washington University and I am conducting research to study the relationship between emotional intelligence, thinking styles and certification achievement of senior human resources professionals in the U.S. I am reaching out to you today to participate in a research study for a doctoral dissertation at the George Washington University to benefit the HR profession. You have been identified as a potential participant in this study because you have taken the SPHR and have either passed or failed the examination.

According to http://bit.ly/1PRYI55 the passing rate on the SPHR exam on the period of 2010 to 2015 was as low as 47% (i.e., more than half of the test takers failed the exam). Therefore, this research is important because it will enable measurement of the factors that impact passing or not the SPHR exam.

Your participation involves completing a brief survey about your professional background, thinking styles, and emotional intelligence. Most people will complete this survey in less than 15 minutes. Your responses are anonymous and the results of the survey data analysis will be reported in aggregate form. No identifying information will be used in the analysis or reporting of the survey data. Your honest and accurate input is absolutely essential to this effort.

Survey Incentives
If you complete the entire survey, you will:

Contribute to the advancement of the HR profession
Contribute to the dialogue around the factors that impact certification achievement

If you complete the entire survey and you acknowledge the completion of the survey via email (see instructions at the end of the survey), you will:

Be entered into a drawing for 10 Amazon gift cards of $20 dollars each
Be invited to attend a webinar in which the study results are released, likely in early 2017

Please Help Expand Our Outreach to HR Professionals Who Have either Passed or Failed the SPHR
Do you know HR professionals who have taken the SPHR, have either passed or failed, and would be willing to participate in this study? Please invite them to participate in this study and send the survey link http://bit.ly/1PHZXAa. You will receive an entry in the prize drawing mentioned above for each HR professional who was referred by you to participate in this study (see instructions at the end of the survey).

Your assistance in helping to expand the study and include the perspective of a wide variety of HR professionals is truly appreciated.

About this Study
This study is conducted as part of a doctoral dissertation at the George Washington University's Human and Organizational Learning Department (HOL). For more than 40 years, the HOL Program has helped advance the HR profession.

Questions
If you have any questions about the study, please contact:

Rubens Pessanha Filho
Doctoral Candidate
George Washington University
rubens@gwmail.gwu.edu
703-980-5218

Dr. Cseh
Doctoral Study Advisor
George Washington University
cseh@gwu.edu

I truly appreciate your willingness to participate in the study and advance our profession.

Rubens