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A HOLISTIC AND CONTEXT-SPECIFIC PERSPECTIVE OF CONSTRAINTS TO RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT
61 ABSTRACT
Absent from literature is research that both develops and tests theory that relates to constraints to research productivity in the South African context. This study sought to address this absence. A qualitative study was undertaken, based on a grounded theory analysis of highly productive researchers, the majority of which were National Research Foundation A-rated; mainly from the University of the Witwatersrand but also from the Universities of Cape Town, Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa. Propositions relating to constraints to research productivity were derived. The University of the Witwatersrand was then used as the sampling frame for a quantitative study. These propositions were tested empirically. Multiple linear regression analysis, factor analysis, partial correlation analysis, t-tests and bivariate correlation analysis were applied. Results suggest that the factor structure of these potential constraints loads onto four component categories. Tacit knowledge, self- efficacy and gender role differentiation are found to dominate relationships with research productivity.