DESCRIBING AND EXPLAINING RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY

This article describes results from a study of academic productivity i n Australian higher education. It estimates the output (in terms of qu antity of publications) of individual staff and academic departments a cross different subject areas and types of institution. Concerning res earch productivity, Australian academics resemble their colleagues in other countries: the average is low, while the range of variation is h igh. Most papers are produced by few academic staff. Several potential correlates of productivity, including level of research activity, sub ject area, institutional type, gender, age, early interest in research , and satisfaction with the promotions system, are examined. A model l inking departmental context to personal research performance through d epartmental and personal research activity is developed and tested. Th e results support the view that structural factors (such as how academ ic departments are managed and led) combine with personal variables (s uch as intrinsic interest in the subject matter of one's discipline) t o determine levels of productivity. There is also evidence that resear ch and teaching do not form a single dimension of academic performance .