Making time for science

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Bradford L. Barham ; Jeremy D. Foltz ; Daniel L. Prager
• 关键词：Faculty time allocation ; Research time ; University administration ; Research productivity
• 刊名：Research Policy
• 出版年：February, 2014
• 年：2014
• 卷：43
• 期：1
• 页码：21-31
• 全文大小：794 K

文摘

This work analyzes the evolution of time allocation for agricultural and life science faculty in Tier 1 US research universities from 1975 to 2005. Specifically, it explores the trends with respect to time spent on research versus administrative activities, and shows about a 20% decline in the former and doubling of time spent on the latter. Most of the research time decline is accounted for by increased pre and post-grant administrative efforts and other non-research administrative activities rather than changes in teaching activity. Despite the substantial decrease in time available for research, other key research inputs and overall journal article output per faculty have remained relatively stable over that same time period. These findings raise important concerns regarding whether faculty time is being used sub-optimally relative to other ways in which administrative activities might be completed and scholarly activity might be advanced.