Research Culture among Higher Education Institutions of Saudi Arabia and its impact on faculty performance: Assessing the Role of Instrumentality, Research Infrastructure, and Knowledge Production

Abstract

Evaluation of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) and faculty members depends on scientific study. Effective research culture among HEIs helps faculty members and HEIs improve their performance in this area. Unfortunately, little empirical study has been conducted to determine what elements influence research culture in higher education institutions and how to research culture increases staff performance. Consequently, this study aims to empirically explore the effects of research infrastructure, knowledge generation, and organizational instrumentality on research culture, which affects the job performance of faculty members. 249 faculty members from various Saudi Arabian HEIs provided information that was examined using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and Amos-16. This study found that knowledge production, research infrastructure, and organizational instrumentality positively affect research culture and the job performance of faculty members, with the exception that research culture does not mediate the relationship between knowledge production and unproductive work behavior. In addition, the relationship between research infrastructure and contextual performance is not mediated by research culture. This study's findings will assist higher education institutions, research centers, and faculty members build a thriving research culture, which is impossible without research infrastructure, knowledge generation, and organizational instrumentality. This is the first-ever study among Saudi Arabia's HEIs.