Abstract
The purpose of this review was to investigate the association between publication performance and the organizational and psychosocial work environment of academics in a university setting. In 2018 we conducted database searches in Web of Science, Medline and other key journals (hand-searched) from 1990 to 2017 based on population, exposure and outcome framework. We examined reference lists, and after a title and abstract scan and full-text reading we identified studies that were original research and fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Articles were evaluated as having a low, moderate or high risk of bias using a quality assessment form. From the studies (n = 32) identified and synthesized, work-environment characteristics could explain the quality and quantity aspects of publication performance of academics. Management practices, leadership and psychosocial characteristics are influential factors that affect academics’ publication productivity. Most of the reviewed studies were judged to be of moderate quality because of issues of bias, related to the measuring of publication outcome. The findings in the studies reviewed suggest that highly productive research academics and departments significantly tend to be influenced by the organizational and psychosocial characteristics of their working environment. The practical relevance of this review is that it highlights where academics’ performance needs support and how the work environment can be improved to bolster publication productivity.
Highlights
Research performance is a concept that is broadly associated with resources, the research process and output (Bazeley 2010)
Research performance based on measured criteria has been used to assess who gets research grants or funding as well as to determine who qualifies for promotion (Lundberg 2006; Smith 2015; Schneider 2009)
Studies on the organizational and psychosocial work characteristics as they relate to productivity in academic settings where publication productivity is the most central indicator of performance are scanty (Fox and Mohapatra 2007)
Summary
Research performance is a concept that is broadly associated with resources (e.g. funding, faculty support), the research process and output (e.g. publications, bibliometric indicators, teaching) (Bazeley 2010). Research academics are evaluated by their contribution to knowledge and ideas through research performance. Research performance based on measured criteria (e.g. publications, bibliometric indicators) has been used to assess who gets research grants or funding as well as to determine who qualifies for promotion (Lundberg 2006; Smith 2015; Schneider 2009). Research takes place in a work environment that may limit or stimulate the development of ideas and the production of knowledge (Fox 1992). Studies on the organizational and psychosocial work characteristics as they relate to productivity in academic settings where publication productivity is the most central indicator of performance are scanty (Fox and Mohapatra 2007)
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