Meaning Sources of the Work on Academic Profession-A Research on the Relationship of Academic Performance

Abstract

This study identifies sources of meaning at work, which can be the most important element of work motivation and whose importance and effect are better understood recently. This study aims to investigate a categorical model regarding the meanings attributed to the academic profession and to reveal which sources of meaning are more positively associated with academic performance. Data were collected in academicians. Academic incentive score and number of citations were used to measure academic performance; open and closed-ended questionnaires were applied to 815 academicians. As a result, the internal-external and development-contribution oriented the model of meaning sources of the work on academic profession was introduced. In the context of this model, the sources of meaning with the highest frequency were usefulness, passion, development and learning, meaning of life and scientific contribution. Also, it has been determined that academicians who see the academic profession as the meaning of their life have higher academic performance. It was also revealed that those who adopted the respectability meaning source had lower academic performance.