Modeling Adaptive Performance of the Academics in Selected Public Universities in Eastern Philippines during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study provides a framework for understanding the adaptive performance of academics in public universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted operations in the educational sector as the majority of schools, colleges, and universities have been impacted by this health crisis. Despite the significance of understanding adaptive performance, academic studies in the context of public universities, particularly in emerging Asian countries during uncertain conditions such as the pandemic, are very sparse. This study examines the effect of socio-demographic characteristics, big-five personality traits (i.e., openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism), transformational leadership, and perceived organizational support (POS) on the adaptive performance among academics of public universities in Leyte, Eastern Philippines in time of the COVID-19 pandemic. A predictive research design governs this study using a quantitative research strategy. The data were gathered using a self-administered online survey questionnaire. Using hierarchical multiple regression analysis, the results of the study revealed that three socio-demographic characteristics (educational level, academic position, and years of teaching experience) exhibited significant relationships with adaptive performance. Conversely, openness to experience is the only personality trait that demonstrated a significant association with adaptive performance, while the effects of extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and neuroticism are not supported. Moreover, neither transformational leadership nor POS had any evident influence on adaptive
performance.