Motivation and Academic Staff Research Productivity in Chartered Private Universities in Uganda

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of motivation factors on academic staff research productivity in chartered private universities in Uganda. The study used the descriptive cross-sectional survey design using qualitative and quantitative approaches on academic staff in the universities. Data were collected using questionnaire survey and an interview guide. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential methods. Descriptive statistics and qualitative findings revealed that research productivity, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation of academic staff were fair. Regression analysis revealed that while intrinsic motivation had a positive significant influence on research productivity, extrinsic motivation had a positive but insignificant influence on research productivity. Therefore, it was concluded that the motivation factor of intrinsic motivation is imperative for research productivity but extrinsic motivation has marginal contribution to research productivity of academic staff. It was thus recommended that the management of universities should establish strategies for promoting intrinsic motivation in order to promote research productivity of academic staff and efforts should be made to increase extrinsic motivation offers including higher pay to enhance motivation of academic staff.