Young Scientists’ Motivation for the Research Activity in Russian Regional Universities

Abstract

Introduction. In modern Russian science, there is a contradiction between the need for workforce rejuvenation and the orientation of the existing system on established scientists, whose interest in conducting breakthrough research has been weakened. Most promising young researchers are deprived of the freedom to independently choose the field of application of their abilities; also, scientists do not have access to resources to solve complex innovative problems and cannot directly represent the products of their work to those people, who may need them. As a rule, young scientists’ research interests are usually limited by the agenda dictated by scientific supervisors; the list of grant contests available for participation is extremely small; formalised requirements of postgraduate studies and thesis defence are conservative and full of outdated rules. In particular, all the above-mentioned problems are evident in the regions.The aim of the work is to highlight young scientists’ (e.g. employees of provincial scientific and educational organisations) motivational factors influencing the research on relevant topics and conditions for success in such research activities.Methodology and research methods. The methodological framework is based on the systemic approach, which involves a comparative analysis method and a hypothetical-deductive method. The empirical material was collected through questionnaire and expert surveys. The cluster sampling involved 148 young scientists (Doctors of Sciences under 40 years old, Candidates of Sciences under 35 years old, postgraduate students and researchers without a degree under 30 years old). In-depth interviews were conducted with the most successful respondents (N = 20) to comprehensively assess the factors of their professional activity, since it is the leaders, who primarily determine the effectiveness of functioning system.Results and scientific novelty. The motivation of a young scientist is considered as a key factor in the productivity of his or her research behaviour, which, in turn, depends on the needs of the individual and the degree of his or her satisfaction with self-realisation in the process of targeted scientific search. The authors formulated a number of hypotheses regarding the motivation of young scientists and the reasons for the decreased scientific activity in recent years based on the analysis of statistics on the state and dynamics of research activities in Russia as a whole, in regions and in individual institutions; on the comparative indicators of such activity and the benchmarking of its best practices beforehand, in the course of the pilot study (in February-March 2018). The authors developed and validated survey tools in order to test the assumptions and to check the final list of assumptions, which included a questionnaire and a list of expert assessments. The generalisation of results based on the questionnaire and the interviews of young researchers made it possible to specify their motivational features and to identify the structural core. There is a clear discrepancy between the desire of respondents to engage in research and the opportunities provided at the state and regional levels, and in the scientific and educational organisations. Traditional support mechanisms for young scientists do not allow using their research and personal potential adequately. The lack of due attention to young scientific personnel will have long-term negative consequences not only for the Russian science, but also for the entire production and economic sector of the country.Practical significance. The proposals and recommendations are made to adjust the management of research activities in the regions and to revise the research policy in order to implement the Strategy of Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation.