The Dimensions of Research Attitudes Among University Faculty: A Sociodemographic Analysis in La Libertad, Peru

Abstract

In recent years, the academic research landscape in La Libertad, Peru, has been characterized by a limited and uneven scientific output among institutions and faculty members. Factors such as an excessive workload, insufficient resources, and inadequate training in research methodologies have hindered the development of a robust research culture. Understanding the attitudes of faculty members toward research is crucial for enhancing scientific production within the university setting. The aims of this study were (1) to comparatively analyze faculty's attitudes toward research in La Libertad, considering their sociodemographic characteristics, and (2) to examine these attitudes across five key dimensions: personal perception, capabilities and training, evaluation, challenges, and collaboration and methodology in research. A sample of 110 university teachers from Chepén, Piura, Trujillo, and Chiclayo participated in a structured questionnaire survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and comparative analyses were conducted via the Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The results revealed significant differences in attitudes toward research on the basis of gender, age, and teaching experience across various dimensions. Personal perceptions of research varied significantly across all three sociodemographic factors. Research skills and training showed disparities by gender and teaching experience but not by age. The valuation of research differed by gender and teaching experience but not by age. The challenges in research varied by age but not by gender or experience. Collaboration and methodology differed by gender and teaching experience but not by age. This study contributes to our understanding of the research attitudes in higher education by highlighting the complex interplay of sociodemographic factors. These findings have implications for developing personalized professional development strategies and targeted interventions to enhance research skills, improve the valuation of research, and address age-specific challenges in the research process.

Keywords: La Libertad Peru; faculty development; higher education; research attitudes; sociodemographic factors.