Knowledge, Skills, and Other Individual Characteristics of Academic Researchers

Abstract

This research evaluates and categorizes individual characteristics and abilities that higher education researchers should possess in a knowledge economy. We examine a sample of 319 participants dedicated to the investigating processes from public and private higher education institutions in Puerto Rico. A multivariable analysis is used in which technical successive fractural analysis, cluster, and manova analysis were applied to explore and confirm the principle relevant factors in the abilities and skills studied. From the sample, the researchers identified two groups of students that showed significant differences in their responses and how they categorized their abilities. Student subgroup 1 viewed first-priority to be to "adjust to change, add value to society and the economy, in addition to having the ability to seek for funding to support their investigations." Student subgroup 2 considered first-priority to "adjust to change, add value to the economy and society and become entrepreneurs." Furthermore, this investigation found that professors considered the most relevant category to be "multidisciplinary and practical and that results should be disseminated." They have also balance benefit to the economy and society with quality of life.

Keywords: Research Skills, Knowledge Economic, Cluster Analysis, Factorial Analysis, and MANOVA

JEL Classification: A2