Academic Staff Motivation: A Panacea for Improved Research Output and Quality Graduates from Universities in Kenya

Abstract

This study examined the motivational strategies employed by university administration to motivate academic staff to engage in research activities. The study focused on establishing the individual and institutional factors that determine research output in universities. The study sought to suggest sustainable motivational strategies universities can pursue to motivate lectures. The descriptive survey design was used to collect data from a representative sample of the population using questionnaires for lecturers and interview guide for chairpersons of departments. The data was analyzed using means and standard deviation and presented on tables. The findings revealed that: all of the lecturers (100%) seem to agree that individual motivators determine research output in universities. Standard deviations of being university lecturers; professional recognition and growth; participation in academic discourses; inquisitive nature for own gains; demand by academic world to engagement in research activities; the need to contribute to their discipline; research for career progression; recognition purposes and for self-fulfillment and personal interests as individual motivators for research output were statistically significant. All the motivators were significant at P<0.05. The mean scores of 4.1529 and 4.4235 portrayed that university lecturers perceived professional recognition and professional growth as being the greatest determinants of research outputs. On hygiene factors, the most significant ones were provision for reduced workload for staff doing research, promotion of academic staff based on research output and Reward system for researchers (M = 5.000;M = 4.9995 and M = 4.9112) respectively. The study suggested that a conducive working environment should be arrived at through consultative approach, working research policies and clear cut reward systems for researchers should be enforced and finally Universities should find ways of disseminating their research findings.