Influence of Collaborative Footprints in Science Education on Research Productivity and Global Visibility of Nigerian Universities

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of collaborative footprints on research productivity and the global visibility of science education research in Nigerian universities. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised all science education academics in Nigerian universities, while a sample of 384 academics was selected using a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected using a researcher-developed, validated structured questionnaire titled Collaborative Footprints, Research Productivity and Global Visibility Questionnaire (CFRPGVQ). The instrument was administered directly to the respondents, and the retrieved data were analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the descriptive research questions, multiple regression analysis to determine the predictive influence of collaborative footprints on research productivity and global visibility, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) to establish the relationship between collaborative footprints and the advancement of science education at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that collaborative footprints significantly predicted research productivity (R² = 0.420, β = 0.648, p < .001) and global visibility (R² = 0.351, β = 0.592, p < .001), although collaboration was found to contribute more strongly to research productivity than to global visibility. The study concluded that strengthening collaborative footprints is essential for improving research productivity, global visibility, and the advancement of science education in Nigerian universities. It was recommended that universities should strengthen institutional support for collaborative research by increasing research funding, promoting national and international research partnerships, and investing in digital research infrastructure to enhance the global competitiveness of science education research.