Perceived Challenges of Academic Staff Production of Research Papers in Colleges of Education in Ghana

Abstract

Apart from improving the ranking of the individual and his/her institution, research publications are also known to make important contributions to the advancement of knowledge and formulation of government policies, thus enhancing institutional, sector and/or national and global development. The study explored challenges that College of Education tutors face in line with publishing research papers and other scholarly materials. Utilizing concurrent nested mixed method design, tutors of all Colleges of Education institutions in Ghana were targeted, however, 190 tutors were drawn from the five Colleges of Education zones in Ghana to participate in the study. A checklist of .72 internal consistency reliability was used to gather the quantitative data while interview schedule was used to gather qualitative data about challenges that affect academic staff publishing of research products. Data to answer research question one was analyzed using descriptive statistics, specifically, percentages and frequencies. However, data to answer research question two were analyzed using Braun and Clarke thematic analysis approach. Findings revealed that college tutors used in the study had awareness and knowledge about how research articles and abstracts are produced but not for other research products such as monograph, book chapters and so on. The study findings further showed that, weaker foundational knowledge and skills in research methodology, lack of writing experience, deficient information technology skills and lack of mentorship constituted the challenges that affected frequent publishing of research products among college tutors. Regular workshops of research methodology and production of research papers should be organized for college tutors by college management. The study further recommends that the Ministry of Education in collaboration with Ghana Education Trust Fund (GetFund) as a matter of priority should work on improving and building more infrastructure, specifically, offices for academic staff and technological infrastructure to enhance more research-based activities within the Colleges.