Institutional Supports and Research Output in University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the contribution of Institutional Supports (ISs: Academic Mentoring – AS, Research Funding – RS and Research Infrastructure - RI) to Research Output (RO) in the University of Ibadan (UI), Nigeria. Expost-facto research design was adopted. The population comprised 1,484 Academic Staff (AS) in the University. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 181 AS from four randomly selected faculties, while proportionate to size sampling technique was adopted for selecting 30% of AS from each faculty (Clinical Science-58, Arts-46, Education-40 and Science-65). Two self-developed instruments: Institutional Supports Questionnaire and Publication Checklist were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were used to answer research questions while multiple regression analysis was employed in testing hypotheses. The RO level in UI was high, while Academic Mentoring (AM) is the most pattern ISs enjoyed by disciplines in UI. Positive significant relationships were found between AM (r = 0.308) and Research Funding-RF (r = 0.172). However, there is no significant relationship between research environment (r = 0.143) and RO. Academic discipline makes no significant impact on RO in the UI, Nigeria. The AM, RF and research environment jointly contributed to RO (F_{(3, 159)} = 5. 897; Adj R² = 0.085; p<0.05). However, AM and RF made relative contribution to RO (β = 0.284; 0. 042; t = 3.537; 0.339; p<0.05). University management should place priority on institutional supports for enhanced research output.