Teacher research self-efficacy and teacher research environment in higher education: University teachers’ perceptions from a social cognitive perspective

• Guided by social cognitive theory, the study details the development of the Teacher Research Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. • Findings reveal significant positive correlation between teacher research self-efficacy and teacher research environment, and between years of teaching experience and publication output. • Participants’ perceptions of the educational research environment differed significantly between those who engaged in professional development programmes and those who did not. • Eight key factors fostering teacher research in higher education are identified: time, funding, policy, leadership, professional development programmes, peer and mentor support, technology, and career progression. While university teachers increasingly conduct and publish educational research across disciplines, research on teacher research self-efficacy in university settings remains limited. Grounded in social cognitive theory, this mixed-methods study explores university teachers’ perceptions of teacher research self-efficacy, their teacher research environment, and influencing factors. Using a questionnaire and follow-up interviews, findings revealed significant positive correlations between teacher research self-efficacy and teacher research environment, and between teaching experience and publication output. A significant difference in perceptions of educational research environment was found between those who had and had not participated in professional development programmes. Interview data identified eight key influences on teacher research in higher education: time, funding, policy, leadership, professional development programmes, peer and mentor support, technology, and career progression. By informing professional development and policies, these findings can help universities create ecosystems that balance individual needs with systemic support, enabling university teachers to excel as both educators and researchers.