Analysis of Grant Activity of Computer and Information Science Faculty Exploring Productivity

Obtaining grant funding is an important component for faculty members in higher education. This study examined the grant productivity of computer and information sciences faculty using the National Study of Postsecondary Faculty 1999 (NSOPF-99) data. The study utilized an ex-post-facto design. The objectives of the study were to: 1) describe the grant productivity of computer and information sciences faculty in terms of dollars generated and numbers of contracts, 2) examine the grant productivity of faculty by academic rank, 3) describe the sources of external funding for computer and information sciences faculty, and 4) determine if the relationship of selected individual productivity variables and the amount of funding as measured by total funds receive during a single academic year. The literature review examined personal characteristics and attitudes, occupational characteristics, and organizational context. The study found that only 26 % of the faculty had grant-sponsored research. Of that 26%, more than half had only one grant contract. The majority of CIS facult