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Motivation as a catalyst for innovation amidst organizational commitment: a PLS-SEM multi-group analysis of health science educators.

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Title: Motivation as a catalyst for innovation amidst organizational commitment: a PLS-SEM multi-group analysis of health science educators.
Authors: Almalki MS; College of Nursing, Taif University, Taif City, Saudi Arabia. msmalki@tu.edu.sa.
Source: BMC medical education [BMC Med Educ] 2026 Feb 16; Vol. 26 (1). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Feb 16.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101088679 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1472-6920 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14726920 NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMC Med Educ Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: London : BioMed Central, [2001-
MeSH Terms: Motivation* , Organizational Innovation* , Personnel Loyalty*, Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Saudi Arabia ; Latent Class Analysis ; Academia ; Female ; Male
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Empirical research on teaching motivation (TM) as a mediator between organizational commitment (OC) and innovative behavior (IB) is limited in scope. Guided by Expectancy-Value Theory and organizational psychology, this study examines the mediating role of TM between OC and IB among nursing and health science faculty. METHODS: This cross-sectional study gathered data from 102 academic staff in nursing and health sciences at Taif University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), including mediation analysis, multi-group analysis (MGA), and permutation tests with 5,000 subsamples to assess subgroup differences and the robustness of the structural relationships. RESULTS: The structural model revealed a statistical suppression effect, also known as inconsistent mediation effect. This occurred because, despite a strong positive bivariate correlation between TM and IB (r = .678), the direct path from TM to IB became non-significant (β = 0.022, p = .947) when OC was included in the model due to OC’s significant negative direct effect on IB (β = −0.296, p < .001). This suggests that institutional constraints may neutralize the direct benefits of employee motivation. CONCLUSION: In this model, teaching motivation functions as a key indirect pathway through which positive institutional values are associated with innovative behavior, particularly in compliance-oriented contexts. However, the cross-sectional, correlational design does not permit causal inferences about the observed mediation and suppression effects; therefore, the findings should be interpreted as indicative rather than definitive evidence of these mechanisms.
Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and concent to participate: This study was approved by the Taif University Institutional Review Board (Ethical Approval No: HAPO-02-T-105, dated June 22, 2025), and all procedures were performed in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Prior to data collection, participants were provided with a clear description of the study’s objectives, procedures, and their rights. Participation was entirely voluntary, and the completion and submission of the online questionnaire were considered as implied informed consent to participate in the study. Participants were explicitly informed that they could withdraw at any time without penalty. To ensure privacy and confidentiality, all data were anonymized using code numbers, and only aggregated results were reported. Consent for publication: NA. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
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Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Creativity; Faculty; Innovation; Nursing education; Organizational commitment; Structural equation modeling; Teaching motivation
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260217 Date Completed: 20260627 Latest Revision: 20260627
Update Code: 20260627
PubMed Central ID: PMC13011410
DOI: 10.1186/s12909-026-08812-9
PMID: 41699619
Database: MEDLINE
Description
ISSN:1472-6920
DOI:10.1186/s12909-026-08812-9