Impact of academic title structure of university research teams on research output: evidence from 30 Chinese universities

This paper investigates the impact of academic title structure on research output in Chinese universities. Using panel data from the materials science and engineering discipline of 30 universities from 2016 to 2020, a fixed-effects model was employed to analyze the mediating effects of social contribution and research resources. The results indicate that the proportion of national-level talents and senior titles positively correlates with research output, while the proportion of associate senior titles shows an insignificant negative correlation. Both national-level talents and senior titles enhance output through social contribution and research resources, with national-level talents exhibiting a stronger effect. Social contribution proves more effective than research resources in boosting research output. The study recommends policy improvements for attracting high-end talent, increased support for associate senior title holders, and the establishment of a research evaluation system emphasizing social influence.

Mengmeng Zhang, Liyuan Liu, Dongmei Zeng, Xiaoying Li