Factors Influencing Research of Academic Personnel, Faculty of Engineering Prince of Songkla University

Abstract

          This research aimed to examine the factors influencing the research activities of academic staff in the Faculty of Engineering at Prince of Songkla University during the 2024 academic year. The study sample consisted of 144 individuals. The independent variables included gender, age, educational attainment, job position, academic rank, years of service, and departmental affiliation. The dependent variables comprised research skills, budget availability, time constraints, support systems and mechanisms, attitudes toward research, and perceptions of research value and recognition. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, which demonstrated high internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.96. The findings indicated that, overall, respondents perceived the factors influencing research engagement to be at a high level (x̄ = 3.81, SD = 0.75). Four variables were found to have a statistically significant impact on research activity; age (p < 0.001), job position (p = 0.050), academic rank (p = 0.042), and years of service (p < 0.001).