Utilization of research outputs of faculty and graduate students of the University of the Philippines Manila / Cristina F. Mencias, Norina S. Manzano, Aurora G. Rojas

Research is one of the activities that faculty and students of the university do regularly. In the last three years (1998-2001) graduate students in the masters and doctoral programs completed 181 researches. During the same period, Up Manila faculty and students are productive. However, the ultimate goal of research is not only generation of knowledge, but also its dissemination and utilization. This study identified the nerves for dissemination and utilization of research outputs of UP Manila faculy and graduate students, factors associated with dissemination and utilization, and strategies to promote utlization. Respondents to the survey questionnaire included all 27-faculty members with NIH-funded researches, all 11 doctoral graduates and 73% (40%) of masters' graduates. Focus group discussions with librarians of UPM and interviews with research personnel of UP Diliman, UP Visayas and UP Los Baños were also conducted. Results showed that the most frequent venues for dissemination were conferences and scientific meetings, seminars and faculty meetings, publication in journals, exhibits and mass media. Researches were used for educational purposes by including findings in lectures, suggesting research reports as references and citing them in other researches. Research findings were used in health care for future researches, integrated into practice and as bases for policies. Unlike those in UP Los Baños and UP Diliman, none of the researches in the study resulted in products which were patented for commercial purposes. The leading factors that helped dissemation of findings were: personal motivation and perseverance from peers and availability of venues for presentation. The same factors determined utilization except in that utilization, relevance and practical application were more important than personal motivation. Suggestions on how to promote research utilization were basically the same as the suggestions to increase dissemination. These were: providing more venues for presentation and publication, establishing linkages with other institutions, stakeholders and the media, and having more creative and interesting fora.

General Education.