Research Productivity and Institutional Characteristics of Hospitality and Tourism Programs

ABSTRACT

Although some prior studies have examined research productivity, little is known about institutional characteristics and their influence on research productivity. The study reported in this article examined the relationship between research productivity and institutional characteristics of faculty composition, supporting staff, and doctoral research among the world's leading hospitality and tourism departments and schools. Empirical findings indicated that while faculty size was positively associated with productivity, a higher composition of senior researchers in the rank of professor tends to yield higher productivity. Similarly, a larger group of supporting staff and the availability of a doctoral program were the significant predictors of research productivity. Another interesting finding was that the autonomy of institutions offering hospitality and tourism programs emerged as another characteristic influencing higher research productivity.

Keywords:

• Research productivity
• institutional characteristics
• faculty composition
• supporting staff
• doctoral program

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for offering constructive comments and suggestions about an early version of this article. Mr. Ka Ho Chow, Mr. Kin Ho Fung, Ms. Emily Man, and Ms. Ka Wai Ng's assistance in data collection is acknowledged. The study was partly supported by a research grant funded by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.