Can Research Behavior and Motivation Influence Academics’ Research Productivity? A Malaysian Evidence

Abstract

Engaging in research is a fundamental responsibility for academics since it fosters the development of new knowledge and ideas. In order to facilitate this transition, it is essential for the academics at each respective institution to shift their primary emphasis from pedagogy to include a balanced dedication to both teaching and research. Nevertheless, academic research has been shown to have suboptimal levels of output, according to many studies. Such a scenario creates concern among the universities as research is part and parcel of an academic’s career, which sets a path for them to excel as a professor. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the many elements that have an impact on the research productivity of academics. Specifically, this study specifically investigates the potential impact of research behaviour and motivation on the research productivity of academics. This study showcases the impact of research behavior and motivation on the research productivity of university academics, based on a questionnaire survey conducted with a sample size of 192 individuals. The results of this study provide a relevant and valuable addition to the comprehension of research productivity among academics, hence offering potential insights for educational leaders within the public institutions of Malaysia. The findings of this study are expected to provide valuable insights for universities in devising ways to enhance the research productivity of their academics, as well as in determining effective means of supporting academics in fostering research productivity.