Motivation of Academics: An Empirical Assessment of Herzberg's Theory

This study examined academics' viewpoints according to sex, academic title, and professional seniority to establish how much the university presented to its staff hygiene and motivation factors and to find out the effect of these factors in motivating the staff. The findings show that there is not a statistical difference among the academics' viewpoints according to professional seniority relating to the level of presentation of hygiene and motivation factors at the university and the degree of motivation of the staff to work. Moreover, there is a statistical difference among the academics' viewpoints according to academic title and relating to the level of presentation of hygiene factors. Professors found the level of presentation of hygiene factors higher than did associate professors, and assistant professors found it higher than did associate professors and assistants. Furthermore, the academics' viewpoints are not statistically different according to academic seniority and relating to the level of presentation of hygiene and motivation factors and the degree of these factors to motivate the academics to work. When considered generally, academics found the presentation level of both hygiene and motivation factors at midlevel and the motivation degree of these factors at high level. As a result, hygiene and motivation factors in Frederick Herzberg's two-factor theory are important in the motivation of the academic staff, and hygiene factors are valuable in motivation in developing countries such as Turkey. Thus, basic conditions such as physical work conditions, salary and other incomes, work assurance, and good interpersonal relations must be given importance. (Contains 8 tables.)