Improving Research Productivity of Early-Career Academics through Knowledge Acquisition and Sharing Behaviours

Abstract

Early-career academics face significant pressure to establish themselves in their field through research productivity. For early-career academics, publishing research in reputable journals is crucial for their academic and professional growth. Unfortunately, research that primarily focuses on their research productivity and the factors that influence it has hitherto, been ignored. This study investigates the nature and the interrelationships of knowledge acquisition (KA), knowledge sharing behaviours (KSB), and research productivity (RP) among early-career academics of three faculties which included sciences, social science/management and Engineering. A correlational survey research design was employed for the study. The population comprised 645 early-career academics from three universities in Ogun state. A sample size of 215 was obtained from a population of 675 using a multi-stage sampling technique that involved purposive and census method. 179 properly filled copies of the questionnaire were returned. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis. The findings revealed high levels of KA and KS among the respondents. However, the overall mean level of research productivity was low, despite a high level of publications in learned journals. Correlation analysis results indicated a significant and positive relationship between KA and RP, and between KSB and RP. Multiple regression analysis showed that KA and KSB had a combined effect on the RP of the respondents. The study concluded that KA and KSB significantly influenced the RP of early-career academics in Ogun State, Nigeria. Recommendations were presented based on the study’s findings which included among others that funding should be made available for attending conferences where they can present their work and learn from established researchers because this engenders their research productivity by facilitating knowledge acquisition and knowledge sharing behaviours that lead to enhanced professional growth.