Research Culture at Public Universities in Pakistan: Academics’ Perspective

Abstract

The study was designed to explore research culture at public universities in Pakistan. Faculty members of general public sector universities were approached for data collection by using a questionnaire. By adopting multistage cluster sampling method, 382 faculty members were selected from six delimited universities of Punjab, Pakistan. Cronbach Alpha value (0.961) showed high level of reliability. The collected data was analyzed by using various statistical tests with the help of Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS). Teachers’ opinions were divided and close to neutral value but respondents were vaguely accepting that research culture at public universities was improving. Teachers had positive perception about supervisory practices, available physical facilities, management support, dissemination of research and policies for improving research culture at universities. Whereas, respondents believed that human resources capacity building activities to develop research skills, collaboration and funding were less than the requirements of the universities to establish a rich research culture. There was no significant difference among the perception of teachers about research culture by gender and age. It is recommended that there was need to conduct trainings for researchers, develop academia-industry linkage, update laboratories and libraries, revise policies; and provide consultancy services to the private sector for earning funds.