Predictors of research productivity among academic staff with PhDs in universities in Uganda from Bean’s (1982) Model

Abstract

In this study, I sought to examine the predictors of research productivity among academic staff with a PhD in universities in Uganda from Bean’s (1982) model. To Bean, the research productivity of an academic staff arises out of individual variables (research goals, collaboration with research colleagues, research resources, equity of rewards, and research legitimacy) after being influenced by organisational variables (research emphasis, university reputation, university size, university affluence, and university autonomy). I used a positivist paradigm within a Cartesian philosophy, and employed a cross-sectional survey design. A total of 217 academic staff with PhDs, whom I randomly sampled from three universities, provided data by completing SAQs. The study had four hypotheses. I tested three of these using both Pearson’s linear correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression. In contrast, I tested the fourth hypothesis using mediation analysis. None of the organisational variables was found to be a significant predictor of research productivity. Of the individual variables, only collaboration with research colleagues and equity of rewards were significant predictors of research productivity. University reputation significantly predicted research goals and collaboration with research colleagues. University affluence significantly predicted research resources and equity of rewards. University autonomy significantly predicted research legitimacy. Lastly, the results showed significant mediation between research emphasis and research productivity by research goals; university reputation and research productivity by jointly research goals and collaboration with research colleagues; and university affluence and research productivity by research legitimacy. Because the prediction of research productivity by most of the individual and organisational variables individually was not statistically significant, I recommend that university managers consider attending to these factors in synergy if the research productivity of their academic staff with PhDs is to improve.