Do Publication Types Influence Motivation for Research of Vietnamese Lecturers?

Abstract

The study clarified the differences between publication types and how they influence university lecturers' research motivation through the relationship between three variables in the Expectancy theory (expectancy, instrumentality, valence). The results of structural equation model (SEM) and using multi-group analysis with a research sample of 475 lecturers in economics universities in Vietnam show that two groups of publication types (international publications and publications in domestic journals) have different impacts on the relationship of expectancy, instrumentality, valence ​​with research motivation. Motivation for international publications is higher than publications in domestic journals. In both publication types, the variables "external means", "external value", and "internal value" have no effect on research motivation, while the variable "internal means" has a beneficial impact. "Expectation", however, has a negative impact on research motivation with international publication activities, whereas this variable has a favorable impact on research motivation with domestic publication. This is also distinct from many studies conducted in other countries around the world about research motivation. This is an important point in proposing legislative documents and suitable management methods in order to increase lecturers’ research motivation, especially in international publication.