Assessing the Influence of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation on Productivity in Private Universities

Authors

Iwelumor Oluwakemi S.

Department of Sociology, College of Business and Social Sciences, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria \Landmark University SDG 4 (Quality Education), Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria \Landmark University SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria (Nigeria)

Odesanmi Akinola

Department of Sociology, College of Business and Social Sciences, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria \Landmark University SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria (Nigeria)

Oye Joseph A.

Department of Sociology, College of Business and Social Sciences, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria \Landmark University SDG 4 (Quality Education), Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria (Nigeria)

Obuene Henry U.

Department of Sociology, College of Business and Social Sciences, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria \Landmark University SDG 4 (Quality Education), Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria (Nigeria)

Bada Abdulrahman B.

Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria (Nigeria)

Ayodele Jephthah A.

Department of Sociology, College of Business and Social Sciences, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria (Nigeria)

Article Information

DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS.2026.100601292

Subject Category: Education

Volume/Issue: 10/6 | Page No: 18827-18843

Publication Timeline

Submitted: 2026-06-28

Accepted: 2026-07-03

Published: 2026-07-17

Abstract

Employee motivation plays a critical role in enhancing staff productivity, organizational competitiveness, and employees’ career advancement. This study investigated the influence of motivation on staff productivity in a private university, drawing on Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory as its theoretical framework. A descriptive survey design was adopted to examine the variables relevant to the study objectives. Using a three-stage sampling procedure, respondents were selected from Landmark University. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, yielding 129 valid responses, and analyzed using linear regression. The findings revealed that intrinsic motivational factors influenced 74.4% of the respondents, while 89.7% reported that extrinsic motivational factors affected their work performance. Regression analysis indicated that intrinsic motivation had a significant positive effect on academic productivity, explaining 13.2% of the variance (R² = 0.132; F = 19.278). Similarly, extrinsic motivation showed a significant relationship with academic productivity, accounting for 17.5% of the variance (R² = 0.175; F = 26.941). The study concludes that implementing sustainable and multidimensional motivational strategies is essential for improving academic productivity in universities. It recommends that university management should regularly assess employee satisfaction and morale to identify workplace challenges and introduce appropriate incentive systems that enhance job satisfaction and overall staff performance.

Keywords

Intrinsic Motivation; Extrinsic Motivation; Staff; Job Satisfaction; Academic Productivity

Downloads

References

1. Ahmad, S. (2021). Motivation and performance: A psychological process. International Journal of Business and Management Research, 9(2), 104-112. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Aithal, P. S., & Aithal, S. (2023). How to increase emotional infrastructure of higher education institutions. International Journal of Management, Technology, and Social Sciences (IJMTS), 8(3), 356-394. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Akerele, O. O. (2023). The link between motivation and organizational performance: An exploration of factors influencing employee motivation and its impact on organizational success. EuroMid Journal of Business and Tech-Innovation, 26-36. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Al-Alwani, M. (2025). Identifying Key Challenges in Academic Institutions: Obstacles Impacting Performance and the Role of Universities in Solutions. HumanArts, 1(1). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Alshmemri, M., Shahwan-Akl, L., & Maude, P. (2017). Herzberg’s two-factor theory. Life Science Journal, 14(5), 12-16. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Balzer, W. K. (2020). Lean higher education: Increasing the value and performance of university processes. Productivity Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Dörnyei, Z., & Ushioda, E. (2021). Teaching and researching motivation. Routledge. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Elfahmi, S., Chandrarin, G., & Manan, A. (2021). The influence of external environment, internal environment, and motivation on competitiveness through the product innovation of Lasem Batik Tulis SMEs in Indonesia. International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 24(4), 514-534. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Ghazi, S. R., Shahzada, G., & Khan, M. S. (2013). Resurrecting Herzberg’s two factor theory: An implication to the university teachers. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 3(2), 445. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Herzberg, F. (2015). Motivation-hygiene theory. Organizational behavior. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Ibrahim, I. W., Ghazali, I. M., Syed, S. A., Abdullah, N. H. R., Hamid, M. H. A., & Aisyah, S. H. (2023). Exploring motivation for learning using Hertzberg’s two factor theory. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 13(3), 1065-1083. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Le, T. T., Phuong, H. Y., Pham, T. T., Nguyen, A. T., Huynh, T. A. T., & Nguyen, H. T. (2023). The integral roles of supporting staff in bolstering academic performance: A qualitative study in Vietnamese higher education institutions. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 10(1), 2264008. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Lohela-Karlsson, M., Jensen, I., & Björklund, C. (2022). Do attitudes towards work or work motivation affect productivity loss among academic employees?. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(2), 934. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Lawler, E. J. (2001). An affect theory of social exchange. American journal of sociology, 107(2), 321-352. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Masinde, M., & Coetzee, J. (2023). Modelling research productivity of university researchers using research incentives to crowd-in motivation. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 72(5), 1509-1530. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Nwakamma, M. N., Ndinechi, M. C., & Agubor, C. K. (2024). Examining the Integration of a GPS-based Staff Performance Monitoring and Assessment System within Academic Settings. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Nwachukwu, G. O. (2024). Human capital development: A driver for educational improvement in Nigeria. British journal of education, 12(6), 30-39. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Odunukwe, I., Dioha, I., & Prince Okoli, P. (2025). Self-Motivation and Performance of Academic Staff of Federal Universities in South East, Nigeria. American Journal of Economics and Business Management, 8(3), 1126-1149. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Reza, M. M. H., & Neogy, T. K. (2024). Total Rewards as a Driver of Employee Performance: An HRM-Based Analytical Literature Review. Journal of Fareast International University, 7(1), 27-36. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Rietveld, J. R., Hiemstra, D., Brouwer, A. E., & Waalkens, J. (2021). Motivation and productivity of employees in higher education during the first lockdown. Administrative Sciences, 12(1), 1. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Slama, R. B., & Choukir, J. (2019). Faculty members’ productivity and research funding: Intrinsic and/or extrinsic motivations. Advanced and applied sciences, 6(4), 130-142. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Tejada, J. J., & Punzalan, J. R. B. (2012). On the misuse of Slovin’s formula. The philippine statistician, 61(1), 129-136. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Theng, B. P. (2023). The Impact of Employee Motivation on Productivity. International Journal of Health, Economics, and Social Sciences (IJHESS), 5(1), 209-221. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Wambui, N. M. (2022). Employee Engagement and Performance of Non-Academic Staff in Selected Public Universities in Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, Kenyatta University). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Wiechetek, Ł., & Pastuszak, Z. (2022). Academic social networks metrics: an effective indicator for university performance? Scientometrics, 127(3), 1381-1401. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Yener, C. (2021). Exploring the Drivers of Research Productivity: A Study of Motivation and Hygiene Factors Among Academics. Journal of Policy Options, 4(2), 30-36. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

Metrics

Views & Downloads

Similar Articles