The Social Action Perspective: Attachments to Work and Productivity in the Research Function

Abstract

This study examines faculty motivation and quantitative performance in the research function. Beginning with industrial theory, factor analysis is used to characterize individual motivations to work in terms of distinctive sets of goals sought from employment. These bases of motivation (or 'work attachments) are surprisingly comparable to the range of attachments found in industry: Moral, Calculative and Alienative. Regression analysis indicates that Moral and Alienative attachments make an appreciable contribution to the explanation of research productivity. The results of this exploratory study suggest that further research should be undertaken to consider the manner in which faculty make sense of their situations and develop goals from work. There is also a need to study the relationship between work attachments and performance in other academic functions. Finally, it is suggested that the implications of research on work attachments be considered in relation to work design, compensation and development activities.