Faculty Perceptions Of Research Rewards

Abstract

This study surveyed 320 faculty members from 10 business schools to examine the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards that motivate faculty to conduct research.  Of the thirteen rewards studied, receiving or having tenure is the most important reward, while getting a possible administrative position was the least important.  There were significant differences in the importance of these rewards between tenured-untenured and between male-female faculty members.  Faculty perceives a strong link between research productivity and the attainment of the rewards of tenure and of promotion.  However, in the minds of the faculty, the link between publications and the reward of salary increases is not strong.  Associate professors reported lesser importance than either full professors or assistant professors on nine of the thirteen rewards and perceived a weaker link between research productivity and achieving the reward. This implies that the associate professors are the least motivated faculty rank to perform research.  There was no significant difference in the number of journal articles either published or accepted for publication within the past 24 months by tenure status, gender, or faculty rank.