Attitude and Motivation Influence the Research Performance among Academicians at Malaysian Research University

Nurul Fatin Malek Rivan; Suzana Shahar; Norhayati Ibrahim; Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh; Wan Syafira Ishak; Ruszymah Idrus; Ishak Ahmad; Melor Md Yunus; Hatta Sidi; Ahmad Kamal Arifin; Adi Irfan Che An; Neoh Hui-Min; Roszalina Ramli; Kuik Cheng Chwee; Nur Faizah Abu Bakar; Noor Shahida Sukiman

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Attitude and Motivation Influence the Research Performance among Academicians at Malaysian Research University

Author: Nurul Fatin Malek Rivan ¹ ; Suzana Shahar ² ; Norhayati Ibrahim ³ ; Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh ⁴ ; Wan Syafira Ishak ⁵ ; Ruszymah Idrus ⁶ ; Ishak Ahmad ⁷ ; Melor Md Yunus ⁸ ; Hatta Sidi ⁹ ; Ahmad Kamal Arifin ¹⁰ ; Adi Irfan Che An ¹¹ ; Neoh Hui-Min ¹² ; Roszalina Ramli ¹³ ; Kuik Cheng Chwee ¹⁴ ; Nur Faizah Abu Bakar ¹⁵ ; Noor Shahida Sukiman ¹⁶
Author Information

1. Nutritional Sciences Programme and Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness (H-CARE), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
2. Dietetics Programme and Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness (H-CARE), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
3. Health Psychology Programme and Centre of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
4. Physiotherapy Programme & Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness (H-CARE), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
5. Audiology Programme, Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness (H-CARE), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Lumpur, Malaysia;
6. Physiology Department, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Batu 9 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
7. School of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia;
8. Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia;
9. Department of Psychiatry, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Batu 9 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
10. Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia;
11. Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia;
12. UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), Batu 9 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
13. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia & UKM Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
14. Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia;
15. Dean’s Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
16. Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness (H-CARE), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: research; grant; publication; attitude; behavioral; factor; academic
From:Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2026;24(No. 1):18-28
CountryMalaysia
Language:English
Abstract: Despite publishing and securing research grants being obligatory in research universities, the literature on the factors influencing academic productivity is relatively scarce. Thus, in this study, we aimed to determine the personal and behavioural-related factors that influence the culture of publishing and securing research grants among academicians with lower research-related performance. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 49 academic staff members of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). A self-administered questionnaire consisting of personal, attitude and behavioural (barriers, perceived stress scale, work extrinsic and intrinsic motivation scale, psychological well-being scale, and basic needs satisfaction scale) questions were distributed during a workshop and online. Simple linear regression (SLR) analyses were performed for each variable, followed by multiple linear regression (MLR) to identify the associated factors of research output. After adjusting for covariates, having a doctoral degree (β=0.396, 95% CI=0.221-2.146, p<0.05) and integrated regulation (β=0.574, 95% CI=0.036-3.612, p<0.05) were found to be associated with research grant acquisition (R2=0.273). Moreover, increasing age (β=0.426, 95% CI=0.088-0.397, p<0.05), living alone (β=0.331, 95% CI=0.944-6.626, p<0.05), having a doctoral degree (β=0.248, 95% CI=0.174-6.747, p<0.05), environmental mastery (β=0.318, 95% CI=0.013-0.347, p<0.05), self-acceptance (β=0.284, 95% CI=0.010-0.242, p<0.05), satisfaction incompetence (β=0.273, 95% CI=0.001-0.200, p<0.05) and relatedness (β=0.280, 95% CI=0.001-0.116, p<0.05) were found to be the factors that influence the publications produced among participants (R2 =0.423). The findings of this study could be used by management to formulate effective strategies to increase the productivity of academics in their research-related performance.
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