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Idiocentrism‐allocentrism and academics' self‐efficacy for research in Beijing universities

Jingsong Zhao (School of Education, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia)
John McCormick (School of Education, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia)
Katherine Hoekman (School of Education, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia)

International Journal of Educational Management

ISSN: 0951-354X

Article publication date: 22 February 2008

982

Abstract

Purpose

This article aims to explore how self‐efficacy is related to academic research activities and how intra‐culturally relevant factors may play a role in self‐efficacy in the context of higher education in Beijing. In particular, relationships of self‐efficacy for research with research productivity and idiocentrism‐allocentrism are to be examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was administered to academics in ten randomly selected universities in Beijing and generated 296 valid questionnaires. Data were analysed using factor analysis and multiple regression.

Findings

Gender and discipline are identified as predictors of self‐efficacy. Specifically, female academics reported lower levels of self‐efficacy for research than males. Academics in the social sciences reported lower levels of self‐efficacy for research than those in the natural sciences. Moreover, relationships are also found between self‐efficacy for research and idiocentrism‐allocentrism.

Originality/value

The study makes an extensive investigation of self‐efficacy theory, originally developed in Western contexts, in an Eastern culture and provides evidence that intra‐cultural and demographic factors play substantial roles in research self‐efficacy.

Keywords

Citation

Zhao, J., McCormick, J. and Hoekman, K. (2008), "Idiocentrism‐allocentrism and academics' self‐efficacy for research in Beijing universities", International Journal of Educational Management, Vol. 22 No. 2, pp. 168-183. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513540810853567

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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