Clinicians and research: recurring obstacles and some possible solutions.

We surveyed clinicians in residential treatment centers (RTCs) to explore their perceptions of barriers to and resources for accomplishing research and scholarly pursuits. A nationwide sampling of RTCs generated a sample of 273 respondents, which consisted of 95 psychologists, 27 psychiatrists, and 151 social workers. Our sample of clinicians expressed very favorable attitudes toward research and the scientist-practitioner model. However, the great majority are not combining the roles of clinician and researcher/scholar. The most frequently cited barriers to scholarly activity were insufficient time, research not part of the job description, and lack of funding. Recommendations are offered.