Encouraging Encouraging Academic Creativity in Academic Creativity in

Research.Research.

Prof.(MRS.) A.A.AGANGAProf.(MRS.) A.A.AGANGA

Federal UniversityFederal University

OYE-EKITIOYE-EKITI

Good MorningGood Morning

Mr. Vice Mr. Vice Chancellor Sir,Chancellor Sir,

ProfessorsProfessors Academic Academic

ColleaguesColleagues Non-AcademicsNon-Academics StudentsStudents

Ladies and Ladies and GentlemenGentlemen

It is a privilege and honour to stand It is a privilege and honour to stand here and speak before this academic here and speak before this academic community on a topic that is crucial community on a topic that is crucial to our profession as academia. to our profession as academia.

University job description for University job description for academic staff can easily be divided academic staff can easily be divided into three parts namely :into three parts namely :

TEACHINGTEACHING

RESEARCHRESEARCH SERVICE.SERVICE. This presentation is focusing on the This presentation is focusing on the

research part of our job description.research part of our job description. In academics , YOU ARE PAID FOR In academics , YOU ARE PAID FOR

TEACHING, TEACHING, AND YOU ARE PROMOTED FOR AND YOU ARE PROMOTED FOR

PUBLISHING.PUBLISHING.

AS THE SAYING GOES………….AS THE SAYING GOES…………. PUBLISH OR PERISH.PUBLISH OR PERISH. PLEASE PUBLISH. In order to PLEASE PUBLISH. In order to

publish , we have to carry out publish , we have to carry out RESEARCH STUDIES.RESEARCH STUDIES.

WHAT IS RESEARCH ??????????WHAT IS RESEARCH ??????????

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION Research and experimental development is Research and experimental development is

creative work undertaken systematically to creative work undertaken systematically to increase the stock of knowledge, including increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humanity, culture and society, and knowledge of humanity, culture and society, and the use of this knowledge to devise new the use of this knowledge to devise new applications (OECD, 1995).applications (OECD, 1995).

Research is used to establish or confirm facts, Research is used to establish or confirm facts, reaffirm the results of previous work, solve new or reaffirm the results of previous work, solve new or existing problems, support theorems, or develop existing problems, support theorems, or develop new theories.new theories.

Research forms can be scientific which is a Research forms can be scientific which is a commonly used criterion for judging the standing commonly used criterion for judging the standing of an academic institution.of an academic institution.

RESEARCHRESEARCH

Research is to go about seeking.Research is to go about seeking. It’s definition includes any gathering It’s definition includes any gathering

of data, information and facts for the of data, information and facts for the advancement of knowledge.advancement of knowledge.

Research in humanities can be Research in humanities can be historical using primary sources and historical using primary sources and other evidence to systematically other evidence to systematically investigate a topic. investigate a topic.

Artistic research can be practice-based Artistic research can be practice-based research.research.

Research is a process of steps used to Research is a process of steps used to collect and analyze information to increase collect and analyze information to increase our understanding of a topic or issue.our understanding of a topic or issue.

Trochim (2006) stated that research is Trochim (2006) stated that research is often conducted using theoften conducted using the

Hourglass model structure of Hourglass model structure of research.research.

The hourglass model starts with a The hourglass model starts with a broad spectrum for research, broad spectrum for research, focusing in on the required focusing in on the required information through the method of information through the method of the project then expands the the project then expands the research in the form of discussion of research in the form of discussion of results.results.

Creswell (2008) reported that the Creswell (2008) reported that the major steps in conducting research major steps in conducting research are as follows:are as follows:

Identification of research problemIdentification of research problem Literature reviewLiterature review Specifying the purpose of researchSpecifying the purpose of research Determine specific research Determine specific research

questions or hypothesesquestions or hypotheses

A useful hypothesis allows prediction A useful hypothesis allows prediction within the accuracy of observation of within the accuracy of observation of the time, the prediction will be the time, the prediction will be verified.verified.

There are two ways to conduct There are two ways to conduct research.research.

Primary research –using original Primary research –using original documents and data.documents and data.

Secondary research-using secondary Secondary research-using secondary sources, i.e. a synthesis of, sources, i.e. a synthesis of, interpretation of, or discussions interpretation of, or discussions about primary sources.about primary sources.

Research designs:Research designs: There are two major research There are two major research

designs: qualitative research and designs: qualitative research and quantitative research.quantitative research.

Qualitative research involves Qualitative research involves collecting word –type data that is collecting word –type data that is analyzed searching for themes.analyzed searching for themes.

Often used as a method of Often used as a method of exploratory research.exploratory research.

Quantitative research is a systematic Quantitative research is a systematic empirical investigation of empirical investigation of quantitative properties and quantitative properties and phenomena and their relationships.phenomena and their relationships.

Designs are experimental, Designs are experimental, correlation al and survey.correlation al and survey.

Data collectionData collection Analyzing and interpreting dataAnalyzing and interpreting data Reporting and evaluating researchReporting and evaluating research The steps generally are guidelines.The steps generally are guidelines. Rocco et al. (2011) stated that most Rocco et al. (2011) stated that most

researches begin with a general researches begin with a general statement of the problem or rather, statement of the problem or rather, the purpose for engaging in the study.the purpose for engaging in the study.

Literature review identifies flaws or Literature review identifies flaws or holes in previous research which holes in previous research which provides justification for the study.provides justification for the study.

A gap in the current literature as A gap in the current literature as identified by a researcher then identified by a researcher then engenders a research question.engenders a research question.

Creativity and Innovation in Creativity and Innovation in ResearchResearch

People need to be innovative and People need to be innovative and creative within their surroundings in creative within their surroundings in order to live and progress.order to live and progress.

Humans are capable of imagining, Humans are capable of imagining, formulating hypotheses, planning formulating hypotheses, planning and carrying out something new and and carrying out something new and worthy, establishing objectives and worthy, establishing objectives and putting in order one’s priorities.putting in order one’s priorities.

InnovationInnovation

Innovation is affected by a diversity Innovation is affected by a diversity of factors. Some of these factors are of factors. Some of these factors are internal and individual (sensitivity, internal and individual (sensitivity, flexibility, motivation, ability to flexibility, motivation, ability to analyse etc.)and others such as analyse etc.)and others such as education, personal interactions, and education, personal interactions, and social context.social context.

CreativityCreativity

Creativity is defined by divergent Creativity is defined by divergent thinking, originality, flexibility, thinking, originality, flexibility, independence, the motivation to independence, the motivation to succeed, sensitivity, the capacity for succeed, sensitivity, the capacity for inventiveness, imagination etc. inventiveness, imagination etc.

Creativity is defined by the capacity Creativity is defined by the capacity to change the patterns of perception to change the patterns of perception established by experience, in order established by experience, in order to develop patterns of action.to develop patterns of action.

The development of creative The development of creative attitudes is crucial. One must take attitudes is crucial. One must take into account the three fundamental into account the three fundamental components of attitude (cognitive, components of attitude (cognitive, emotional and behavioral).emotional and behavioral).

Creativity is that characteristic of Creativity is that characteristic of human behaviour that seems the human behaviour that seems the most mysterious, and yet most most mysterious, and yet most crucial to human advancement.crucial to human advancement.

The capacity to solve problems in The capacity to solve problems in new ways and to produce works that new ways and to produce works that are novel, appropriate, and socially are novel, appropriate, and socially valued is ability that has fascinated valued is ability that has fascinated people for centuries.people for centuries.

Most creativity research concerns the Most creativity research concerns the nature of creative thinking, the nature of creative thinking, the distinctive characteristics of the distinctive characteristics of the creative person, the development ofcreative person, the development of

creativity across the individual life creativity across the individual life span, and the social environment span, and the social environment most strongly associated with most strongly associated with creative activity (Simonton, 2007).creative activity (Simonton, 2007).

Hazelkorn (2012) stated that, there Hazelkorn (2012) stated that, there has been a noted policy shift towards has been a noted policy shift towards measuring the value and benefit of measuring the value and benefit of University-based research.University-based research.

The emphasis has switched to The emphasis has switched to looking for outcomes ( the level of looking for outcomes ( the level of performance or achievement performance or achievement including the contribution research including the contribution research makes to the advancement of makes to the advancement of scientific-scholarly knowledge and scientific-scholarly knowledge and ultimately to requiring an impact and ultimately to requiring an impact and benefit for example the contribution benefit for example the contribution of research outcomes for society,of research outcomes for society,

Culture, the environment, and/or the Culture, the environment, and/or the economy.economy.

Traditionally, the emphasis has been Traditionally, the emphasis has been on measuring research income, on measuring research income, bibliometrics and citations.bibliometrics and citations.

The emphasis on global impact The emphasis on global impact undermines the importance of undermines the importance of regionally or culturally relevant regionally or culturally relevant research.research.

The impact has been measured by The impact has been measured by peer accountability rather than social peer accountability rather than social accountability.accountability.

Stuart (2009) stated that in order to Stuart (2009) stated that in order to raise the creativity and productivity raise the creativity and productivity of academic research community, of academic research community, Colleges and Universities may Colleges and Universities may consider the following suggestions:consider the following suggestions:

Suggestions for new Incentive Suggestions for new Incentive systemssystems

Require all faculty members to submit Require all faculty members to submit an annual report indicatingan annual report indicating

i. articles written or book chapters for i. articles written or book chapters for edited books.edited books.

ii. books authoredii. books authored iii. books edited.iii. books edited. iv . Consulting activities for iv . Consulting activities for

governments, corporations, or other governments, corporations, or other entities that use academic knowledge. entities that use academic knowledge.

V . Papers presented or speeches V . Papers presented or speeches made.made.

Vi. Mentoring of Ph.D or MSc. theses.Vi. Mentoring of Ph.D or MSc. theses. Favourable book reviewsFavourable book reviews Awards receivedAwards received Grants receivedGrants received Software developedSoftware developed

Encourage multi-disciplinary Encourage multi-disciplinary research between faculties.research between faculties.

For example joint research between For example joint research between Engineering and medicine to solve Engineering and medicine to solve health problems in many areas.health problems in many areas.

Research between Agriculture and Research between Agriculture and Engineering to produce appropriate Engineering to produce appropriate technology for food production and technology for food production and processing.processing.

Research between disciplines for Research between disciplines for example history, drama, script example history, drama, script writing and film production. Such writing and film production. Such research will bring to life mile -stone research will bring to life mile -stone events in the country and the world. events in the country and the world. It will also provide reliable It will also provide reliable documents for learning in the documents for learning in the concerned areas of specialization. concerned areas of specialization.

Academic Leadership Roles Academic Leadership Roles

Ensure that merit bears correlation Ensure that merit bears correlation to the data that is included in those to the data that is included in those annual reports.annual reports.

Each department head should be Each department head should be required to show a kind of required to show a kind of regression, correlation, or simple regression, correlation, or simple graphic analysis showing the graphic analysis showing the relations.relations.

Professors MUST mentor Professors MUST mentor

And provide leadership in research.And provide leadership in research. Research teams should be part of the Research teams should be part of the

research culture within and between research culture within and between Departments.Departments.

Develop a performance Develop a performance management system where faculty management system where faculty sign a performance agreement with sign a performance agreement with the University on the key research the University on the key research objectives of the University .objectives of the University .

Adequate Research FacilitiesAdequate Research Facilities

Have good facilities on campus in Have good facilities on campus in terms of libraries, ICT and secretarial terms of libraries, ICT and secretarial support.support.

Provide research laboratories which Provide research laboratories which are adequately equipped to facilitate are adequately equipped to facilitate laboratory analyses and procedures.laboratory analyses and procedures.

Necessary research vehicles should Necessary research vehicles should be provided especially for surveys.be provided especially for surveys.

Research FundsResearch Funds

Grant money for business travel and Grant money for business travel and for hiring research assistants.for hiring research assistants.

University should set up Research University should set up Research and Publication Committee (RPC).and Publication Committee (RPC).

RPC should have funds to assist RPC should have funds to assist academic staff with funds for academic staff with funds for research through competitive research through competitive research proposal application research proposal application method.method.

Provision of funds for paying publication Provision of funds for paying publication fees in referenced journals.fees in referenced journals.

Provision of assistance to researchers to Provision of assistance to researchers to process patent (s) for their inventions process patent (s) for their inventions will definitely encourage creativity in will definitely encourage creativity in University research.University research.

Organisation of open days to show Organisation of open days to show case research findings .case research findings .

Research FundsResearch Funds

Application for national and Application for national and international research funds should international research funds should be encouraged .be encouraged .

Research Monitoring and Evaluation Research Monitoring and Evaluation Unit should be set up within the Unit should be set up within the University made up of academic staff University made up of academic staff with long research and publication with long research and publication records.records.

The M&E Unit should monitor research The M&E Unit should monitor research project execution and adequate project execution and adequate evaluation should be done to ensure evaluation should be done to ensure standard research ethics are observed.standard research ethics are observed.

Routine academic seminars should be Routine academic seminars should be organised in Departments, in which organised in Departments, in which faculty members present their ongoing faculty members present their ongoing research for about thirty minutes and research for about thirty minutes and the second half hour on questions and the second half hour on questions and discussion .discussion .

Seminars should include both junior Seminars should include both junior and senior faculty.and senior faculty.

Encourage good graduate students Encourage good graduate students to work with faculty members on to work with faculty members on joining projects.joining projects.

Require seminar papers to be Require seminar papers to be publishable either jointly or publishable either jointly or separately.separately.

Submit articles on creative Submit articles on creative achievement to the departmental achievement to the departmental newsletters, the faculty newspaper newsletters, the faculty newspaper and professional newsletters.and professional newsletters.

Hold regular meetings on how to Hold regular meetings on how to make the Departments more make the Departments more productive and more creative.productive and more creative.

Creative teaching and practical Creative teaching and practical should be encouraged whereby should be encouraged whereby faculty members present their faculty members present their creative ideas in the classroom when creative ideas in the classroom when appropriate and encourage feedback appropriate and encourage feedback from students.from students.

Stuart (2009) stated that even at Stuart (2009) stated that even at major universities, only five percent major universities, only five percent of the faculty write 95% of the books.of the faculty write 95% of the books.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

In conclusion , Research and In conclusion , Research and Publication culture should be Publication culture should be cultivated in the University.cultivated in the University.

Creative research should be Creative research should be recognized and celebrated.recognized and celebrated.

A performance reward system can be A performance reward system can be adopted to encourage creativity in adopted to encourage creativity in research.research.

ReferencesReferences

Creswell, J.W. 2008. educational Creswell, J.W. 2008. educational research planning, conducting, and research planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research.(3qualitative research.(3rdrd). Upper ). Upper Saddle River, NJ. Prentice Hall.Saddle River, NJ. Prentice Hall.

Hazelkorn, E.2012.Measuring value: Hazelkorn, E.2012.Measuring value: societal Benefit of Research. The societal Benefit of Research. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Chronicle of Higher Education. Firefox HTML Document.30179Firefox HTML Document.30179

OECD. 1995. The measurement of OECD. 1995. The measurement of scientific technology activities scientific technology activities proposed guidelines for collecting proposed guidelines for collecting and interpreting technology and interpreting technology Innovation Data. Oslo manual 2Innovation Data. Oslo manual 2ndnd edition, DSTI,OECD/European edition, DSTI,OECD/European Commission Eurostat, Paris.Commission Eurostat, Paris.

Rocco, T.S., Hatcher, T., and Creswell, Rocco, T.S., Hatcher, T., and Creswell, J.W. 2011. The handbook of scholarly J.W. 2011. The handbook of scholarly writing and publishing, San Francisco, writing and publishing, San Francisco, CA: John Wiley and sons.CA: John Wiley and sons.

Simonton,D.K. 2007. Review of Simonton,D.K. 2007. Review of creativity: Theories and creativity: Theories and themes:Research, development and themes:Research, development and practice.In Psychology of Aethetics practice.In Psychology of Aethetics Creativity and the Arts. Creativity and the Arts. http:www.mendeley.comhttp:www.mendeley.com

Stuart,N.2009. Encouraging Stuart,N.2009. Encouraging Academic Creativity In Research. The Academic Creativity In Research. The Innovation journal. Innovation journal. www.innovation.cc/discssion-papers/creativity-research.htm..

Trochim,W.M.K. 2006. Research Trochim,W.M.K. 2006. Research methods knowledge methods knowledge base.wiki/research.base.wiki/research.

THANK YOU LADIES & GENTLEMEN THANK YOU LADIES & GENTLEMEN FOR YOUR TIME.FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR YOUR THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR YOUR TIME.TIME.