Factors Influencing External Research Grant Applications Among Academic Staff at the Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University

Abstract

Objective: 1) To study factors influencing external research grant applications among academic staff at the Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University 2) To compare factors influencing external research grant applications among academic staff at the Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, classified by: personnel type, years of service, educational level, academic position, academic publication and external research grant applications and 3) To study the needs for external research grant applications among academic staff at the Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University.
Material and Methods: This study employed a quantitative research methodology, using a cross-sectional study design. Data were collected using a checklist questionnaire. Content validity was verified with an item objective congruence index of 0.93, and reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient of 0.89. Sample selection utilized stratified random sampling, with sample size determined according to Krejcie and Morgan’s concept.
Results: The study included 100 participants. The investigation of factors influencing external research grant applications among academic staff at the Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University revealed that personal factors, particularly grant application skills, significantly and positively influenced multiple variables: external research grant applications (Beta=0.656, p-value<0.05), academic publication dissemination (Beta=0.529, p-value<0.05), and academic position (Beta=0.367, p-value<0.05), respectively. For academic position, external factors related to research environment were significant positive predictors (Beta=0.342, p-value=0.005). Regarding work experience duration, personal factors related to research attitudes showed significant negative influence (Beta=-0.311, p-value=0.034). For external research grant applications, external factors related to policy and management demonstrated significant negative influence (Beta=-0.394, p-value=0.014). Personnel type and education level could not be significantly predicted by either personal or external factors. When comparing differences by personnel type, years of service, educational level, academic position, academic publication and external research grant applications, no statistically significant differences were found at the 0.05 level and the overall need for external research grant applications among academic staff at the Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University was at a high level (x̄=3.75, standard deviation=0.89).
Conclusion: The factors influencing external research grant applications among academic staff at the Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, specifically grant application skills and research-conducive environmental factors, emerged as significant positive influencing factors. These factors are crucial for promoting external research grant applications among academic faculty members. When categorized by personnel type, years of service, education level, academic position, academic publication record, and previous external research grant applications, no statistically significant differences were found at the 0.05 level. The overall demand for external research grants was at a high level.