Exploring the determinants of scientific productivity: a proposed typology of researchers

Abstract

PurposeAlthough several previous studies were focused on examining the determinants of research productivity, the knowledge of the competences and motives that lead researchers to achieve relevant scientific performance remains unclear. This paper is aimed at contributing to this gap in the research by proposing a typology to understand academic researchers' traits and extending the traditional “more is better” approach, which assumes that higher levels of competence and motivation are always preferable.Design/methodology/approachCluster analysis was applied to a sample of 471 Spanish academics to examine diverse combinations of human capital attributes – knowledge, skills, and abilities – and two sources of motivation – intrinsic and extrinsic.FindingsFour researcher profiles were identified: (1) high vocational academics; (2) motivated academics; (3) self-starter academics and (4) reactive academics. Based on these preliminary findings, we present conclusions about the functioning and productivity of academic researchers.Originality/valueThis paper contributes a novel typology of researchers to the extant literature based on the variables of academic human capital and motivation. The findings indicate that a required and specific combination of attributes better fits the reality of research activities.

Do Attitudes towards Work or Work Motivation Affect Productivity Loss among Academic Employees?

“…It has also been suggested that employees who are more motivated by extrinsic factors, such as monetary rewards, will be less productive in their research [ 27 ]. Another study suggested different typologies of researchers with various patterns of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and association with scientific productivity, which they mean indicated that academics have both extrinsic and intrinsic motives for undertaking research [ 29 ]. The relationship between research productivity and job satisfaction within academia has been extensively studied (e.g., [ 30 , 31 ]), and a positive correlation between productivity and job satisfaction has been reported [ 32 ].…”

Determinants of innovation outcomes: The role of institutional quality

“…This counter-intuitive result may be accounted for several factors affecting the productivity of researchers. Again, this might be indicative of the importance of the quality of the human resources, namely in terms of education, competence and motivation (Ballesteros-Rodríguez et al, 2020;De Rassenfosse and de la Potterie, 2009). Perhaps the most compelling explanation, however, may lie in the underlying structures of the different economies, their differing propensities for undertaking R&D and the purposes to which it is put.…”

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