An analysis of lecturers’ motivation factors to publish academic work: A case of Ubon Ratchathani University

Abstract

There are 3 objectives of this study including: 1) to examine both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors that affect the extent to which the academic work of university lecturers is published; 2) to compare such motivation factors between university lecturers who work on academic publications and those who do not; and 3) to investigate constraints of working on academic publications.  Data were collected by utilizing questionnaire through survey method from 115 lecturers in Ubon Ratchathani University during November 2014 – May 2015. The findings indicate that achievement - the intrinsic motivation factor, and personal life - the extrinsic motivation factor, have an effect upon efficiency of lecturers’ academic publications. Possibility of growth, achievement, recognition, and interpersonal relations with superiors are motivation factors perceived differently by lecturers working on academic publications and those who do not, at statistically significant level of 0.01. From the lecturers’ perspectives, constraints on academic publications include limited time, insufficient financial support, and inefficient facilitating system.