Chapter Five
5.4. Current Studies 1 Intent to Study
5.4.6 Multiple Supervisors
Overall African Indian Coloured White
KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat
Yes 49.4 46.2 40.9 48.3 50 48.0 46.7 58.3 45.2
(9) (57) (15) (24) (7) (21) (171)
No 50.6 53.8 59.1 51.7 50 52.0 100 53.3 41.7 54.8
( 13) (61 ) ( 15) (26) (2) (8) (15) (207) Table 5.23 Multiple Supervisors
Table 5.23 above shows that there is a minor difference between those who answered in the affirmative for this question and those who did not. However, there is a higher percentage of respondents with multiple supervisors in KZN. Nationally, at least 48 percent of African and Indian respondents have multiple supervisors followed by 46.7 percent Coloureds and 45.2 percent Whites. In KZN, 58.3 percent of White respondents have multiple supervisors followed by 50 percent Indian respondents and 40.9 percent of Africans.
5.4.7 Gender of Main Supervisor
Table 5.24 shows that almost two thirds of respondents both nationally and in K.ZN had male supervisors. Respondents were mainly satisfied with their supervisors. However, across the race groups there is a higher percentage of male supervisors in K.ZN with 74.3 percent of White respondents having male supervisors.
Overall African Indian Coloured White
Gender
KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat
Female 33.3 32.5 45.5 37.8 35.7 36.2 12.5 25.7 31.4
(10) (42) ( 10) (17) (2) (9) (117)
Male 66.6 67.4 54.5 62.2 64.3 63.8 100 87.5 74.3 68.6
(12) (69) ( 18) (30) (2) (14) (26) (256)
Table 5.24 Gender of Main supervIsor
5.5. General Research Activities
5.5.1 Non-degree purposes Research activities (NDP)
Table 5.25 Non-degree purposes Research ActIVItIes (NOP)
Overall African Indian Coloured White
KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat
Yes 68.9 58.2 63.6 44.2 68.5 54.8 50.0 53.3 71.4 61.9
(28) (91) (37) (51) (I) (16) (80) (566)
No 31.1 41.8 36.4 55.8 31.5 45.2 50.0 46.7 28.6 38.1
(16) (115) (17) (42) (I) (14) (32) (349)
..
From table 5.25 above, it is clear that there is higher percentage of respondents involved in NDP research in KZN as opposed to the national level. Almost three-quarters of White respondents and almost two-thirds of Indian and African respondents are currently undertaking NDP research in KZN. This is in contrast with at least 44 percent of Africans, 54.8 percent Indians and 61.9 percent Whites at the national level.
5.5.2 Intent to undertake NDP Research in the next two years
Table 5.26 shows that although the majority of respondents answered in the affirmative, almost three-quarters of KZN respondents intend undertaking research as opposed to 56.6 percent nationally. Nationally, at least three quarters of African respondents intend to undertake research. This trend is followed by Coloureds (61.5 percent) and Indians (59
percent). However, only 50.3 percent of White respondents indicated an intent to undertake research. The trend in KZN is similar where at least 80 percent of African and Indian respondents and at least 68 percent of White respondents intend undertaking research.
Overall African Indian Coloured White
Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN
Yes 56.6 76.2 77.5 85.7 59.0 81.3 61.5 100 49.7 68.8
(79) ( 12) (23) ( 13) (8) (I) (163) (22)
No 43.4 23.8 22.5 14.3 41.0 18.8 38.5 50.3 31.3
(23) (2) (16) (3) (5) (165) (10)
Table 5.26 Intent to undertake NDP Research Inthe next two years
5.5.3 Nature of Current Research Project
The extent to which respondents were involved in individual or collaborative research is very similar for the national and regional figures; i.e. 59 percent in collaborative research nationally and 55.3 percent in the KZN region (See Table 5.27). While the sample size did not permit a complete comparison across institutions, the pattern is similar.
Nature of Research Overall African Indian Coloured White
Collaborative 55.3 59.3(16) 43.9(18) 61.0 (50)
Individual 44.7 40.7(11) 56.1 (23) 100 (2) 39.0 (32)
Table 5.27 Nature of Current Research project (KZN)
Table 5.27 shows that across the race groups, at least 59.5 percent of African and 61 percent of White respondents are involved in collaborative research projects. However, this trend is different for Indian respondents where 56.1 percent are involved in individual research projects.
5.5.4 Respondent as Leader of Project
Table 5.28 shows that overall, almost half the respondents in KZN are project leaders as opposed to 51.5 percent at the national level who are not. There is a higher percentage of White respondents as project leaders both nationally and in KZN. Nationally, 53.4 percent of White respondents are project leaders, followed by 36.7 percent African respondents and 26.3 percent Indian respondents. In KZN, the percentage of African respondents as project leaders is almost 20 percent higher than the national figure. The trend is similar for White respondents where the percentage is higher by almost 6 percent. However, Indian
respondents as project leaders are 1 percent fewer in KZN and there are no Coloured respondents as project leaders.
Overall African Indian Coloured White
Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN
Yes 48.5 51.9 36.7 56.3 26.3 25.0 7.7 53.4 59.6
(22) (9) (5) (4) (I) (181 ) (28)
No 51.5 48.1 63.3 43.8 73.7 75.0 92.3 46.6 40.4
(38) (7) (14) (12) ( 12) (158) (19)
Table 5.28 Respondent as Leader of Project
5.5.5 Leader's Gender
Leader's Overall African Indian Coloured White
Gender Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN
Female 45.9 50 48.6 66.7 50.0 54.5 50.0 44.6 42.1
(17) (4) (6) (6) (6) (66) (8)
Male 54.1 50 51.4 33.3 50.0 45.5 50.0 55.4 57.9
(18) (2) (6) (5) (6) (82) (11 )
Table 5.29 Leader's Gender
Table 5.29 shows that overall, there is an equal gender distribution of project leaders in KZN as opposed to a higher percentage of male project leaders at the national level.
Nationally, at least 55.4 percent of White respondents have male project leaders. This trend is similar in KZN where the percentage is 57.9 percent. At least 50 percent of African, Indian and Coloured respondents at the national level have male project leaders.
However, in KZN, almost two-thirds of African respondents have women project leaders followed by at least 54.5 percent for Indian respondents.
5.5.6 Number of Female Researchers
Overall African Indian Coloured White
KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat
None 13.1 14.3 18.8 18.3 11.1 21.7 7.7 12 13.4
(3) (11 ) (2) (5) (I) (6) (47)
I 17.8 18.8 10 27.8 26.1 15.4 20 20
(6) (5) (6) (2) (10) (70)
2 22.6 25.8 25 23.3 11.1 8.7 46.2 26 26.6
(4) (14) (2) (2) (6) (13) (93)
3 11.9 15.5 16.7 11.1 8.7 23.1 16 15.4
(10) (2) (2) (3) (8) (54)
4 13.1 10.3 18.8 10 11.1 8.7 7.7 12 10.6
(3) (6) (2) (2) (I) (6) (37)
5-10 15.5 10.3 31.3 16.7 22.2 21.7 8 8.9
(5) (10) (4) (5) (4) (31 )
More than 10 5.9 4.9 6.3 5 5.6 4.3 6 5.1
(1) (3) (1) (1) (3) (18)
Table 5.30 Number of Female Researchers
From table 5.30, it is clear that the trend is similar both nationally and in KZN, where almost a quarter of the respondents indicated that there are 2 Women researchers per project. The trend is similar across race groups.
5.5.7 Group Involvement
Overall African Indian Coloured White
KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat KZN Nat
Institutional 38.9 43 42.2 29.4 33.3 27.7 31.3 42.9 41.7
(19) (64) (19) (28) (10) (48) (395)
LocallRegional 16.3 14.9 15.6 12.8 19.3 16.8 21.9 16.1 12.8
(7) (28) (11) (17) (7) (18) (121)
National 17.2 14.8 13.3 11.5 15.8 13.9 33.3 3.1 18.8 13.8
(6) (25) (9) (14) (I) (I) (21) (131)
International 14.5 12.2 4.4 3.7 10.5 8.9 33.3 6.3 20.5 12.9
(2) (8) (6) (9) (I) (2) (23) (122)
Journal Board 13.1 14.9 6.7 4.1 5.3 3 15.6 20.5 16.5
(3) (9) (3) (3) (5) (23) (156)
Table5.31 Group Involvement
Table 5.31 shows that group involvement follows a similar trend both nationally and in KZN where the majority of group involvement is institutional. At least 40 percent of White respondents (both nationally and in KZN) and at least 40 percent of African respondents in KZN are involved in group research within institutions. Only a third of African respondents are involved in group research at a national level. This trend is followed by a third each of Indian and Coloured respondents at both the national and KZN levels.
5.5.8 Research Productivity
5.5.8.1 Achievements over past 5 years (National vs KZN)
The data in table 5.32 below indicates a similar trend both nationally and in KZN with regards to achievements over the past 5 years. The most common achievements have been national conferences (no paper or sole author), papers in national and internationals
journals (sole author).
National KZN Achievements over past five years Valid Mean Valid Mean
Cases Cases
Sole SA journal paper 395 3.7 80 3.7
Joint SA journal paper 288 2.5 48 2.3
Sole International journal paper 163 1.9 39 2 Joint International iournal paper 117 2.6 22 2.2
Sole book 89 I.7 22 I.7
Joint book 112 2.1 24 2
Sole chapter 188 2.3 39 2.1
Joint chapter 174 2.5 35 2
Sole conference prac 140 2.8 26 2.4
Sole corn report 106 2.9 25 2.7
Joint corn report 107 2.0 22 3.3
Sole SA conference oaoer 548 3.6 134 3
Joint SA conference paper 260 3.1 80 2.7
Sole international conference paper 345 2.6 25 2.1 Joint international conference paper 154 2.5 121 3.5
Attend SA conference 673 4.4 37 1.8
Attend international conference 172 1.9 64 4
Attend research network 308 5.1 52 2.6
Lead collaborative proiect 21 I 3.2 68 2
International collaborative team 334 2.1 84 I.7
Curriculum development 500 2.2 13 3.3
Other 57 5.5
Table 5.32 Achievements over past ftve years (NatIOnal vs KZN)
5.5.8.2 Achievements over past 5 years by Institution
The national average for the number of sole papers published In SA journals over the previous 5 years is 3,7. There was wide variation across institutions in the KZN region on this measure as reflected in Table 5.33 .
Institution Mean
University of Durban-Westville 5 University of Natal (Durban) 4
University of Zululand 2
University of Natal (PMB) 3
Mangosuthu Technikon 10
ML Sultan Technikon 2
Table 5.33 Number of sole papers (KZN)
Issues that emerge from this section of the survey include the allocation of time for research by institutions. HWU's are reported as allocating more time and resources to
research. Despite being involved in their own studies the study recorded the involvement of the women at UDW, UND and UNIZUL in 52, 53 and 33 research projects. For UDW and UNIZUL, half of these were individually managed projects and half were collaborative whereas for UND almost two thirds were collaborative. Overall, more women in KZN were involved in collaborative projects
Cl
00 or 54 percent) than in individual projects (85 or 46 percent). It was quite surprising that the women who responded from UDW published an average of 5 papers in SA journals, which is higher than even the national average. This is quite a remarkable feat considering the lack of resources and the heavier teaching loads that these women carry.5.6 Support and Encouragement for Research
5.6.1 Family Encouragement and Support
As evident in tables 5.34 and 5.35, the majority of respondents indicated that they were strongly supported by their families. This trend is similar both nationally and in KZN. In the area of child-care and domestic responsibilities, this appeared to be more of a problem nationally than for the KZN region.
Level of Family Housework % Childcare % Emotion % Finance %
Support SUDDort
Not at all 189 17.2 117 16.4 101 8.7 291 27.3
Fairly 331 30.1 187 26.2 248 21.4 212 19.9
Supportive 292 26.5 212 29.7 329 28.4 271 25.4
Strongly 288 26.2 198 27.7 479 41.4 293 27.5
N/A 233 M 609 M 166 M 256 M
Table 5.34 Level of Farruly Support (NatIOnal)
Level of Family Housework % Childcare % Emotion % Finance %
Support SUDDort
Not at all supportive 29 14.9 17 14.2 8 4.0 49 27.2
Fairly supportive 56 28.9 32 26.7 41 20.3 38 21.1
Supportive 49 25.3 34 28.3 68 33.7 40 22.2
Strongly Supportive 60 30.9 37 30.8 85 42.1 53 29.4
N/A 29 103 21 43
Table5.35Level of Famtly support (KZN)
5.6.2 Encouragement for Research at Institution
5.6.2.1 Encouragement and Supportby Head of Department
Against Women-in-Research respondents' perceptions of discrimination, it is worth counter-posing their perceptions of the support they receive for undertaking research.
Women were generally positive about the level of support they were receiving, particularly from their heads of department. From table 5.36 , at least 30 percent indicated that the support from their HOD is "very good" and at least 40 percent indicated "good" support from their department, faculty, institution, and for the type of research being undertaken.
Encouragement Very Poor Good Very
poor Good
From HOD 11.4% 17.8% 39.9% 30.9%
In Department 13.0% 25.7% 42.7% 18.6%
From Faculty 15.1% 26.2% 42.4% 16.2%
From Institution 12.7% 26.9% 41.9% 18.5%
For type of research 13.3% 25.1% 44.1% 17.6%
Table 5.36 Encouragement for research and Support at InstItutIOn
However, there were significant differences between respondents from HBUs and HWUs.
Three-quarters of the women at HWUs regarded the support/encouragement they received from their head of department as "good" or "very good", as compared to 64.5 percent at HBUs. Also evident were differences relating to institutional support: 68 percent of women at HWUs indicated that support from their institutions was "good" or "very good"
as opposed to under 50 percent of respondents from HBUs.
5.6.2.2 Level of Institutional Support
From the data in tables 5.37 and 5.38 below, the rating at both the national and KZN level is very similar with the exception that there is a higher percentage of respondents in KZN who rate institutional support as "poor" or "very poor" when compared to the National level. When focusing on encouragement from heads of departments, faculties and institutional support, most of the respondents in KZN appeared to receive high levels of support, with the exception of UDW.
Level of HoD % Dept % Faculty % Inst %
Institutional Others
support
Very poor 148 12.8 154 13.2 176 15.4 150 12.8
Poor 209 18.1 307 26.2 304 26.7 305 25.9
Good 468 40.4 505 43.1 480 42.1 500 42.5
Very good 332 28.7 205 17.5 180 15.8 221 18.8
N/A 166 M 152 M 183 M 147 M
Table 5.37 Level of InstttutlOnal Support (NatIonal)
Level of HoD % Dept % Faculty % Inst %
Institutional Others
support
Very poor 20 10.3 32 15.9 41 21.1 41 20.6
Poor 32 16.5 49 24.4 52 26.8 58 29.1
Good 68 35.1 83 41.3 68 35.1 67 33.7
Very good 74 38.1 37 18.4 33 17.0 33 16.6
N/A 29 22 29 24
Table 5.38 Level of InstitutIOnal Support (KZN)