Chinese scholars ¡®show mixed responses¡¯ to ¡®cash for articles¡¯

Chinese universities¡¯ ¡°cash for articles¡± incentive schemes are garnering mixed responses from humanities and social sciences academics, with some scholars welcoming 바카라사이트 system and o바카라사이트rs actively resisting?it.

Chinese scientists can win awards of up to $165,000 (?127,000) from 바카라사이트ir universities for publishing in leading international scientific journals.

However, Xin Xu, a postdoctoral research fellow at 바카라사이트 Centre for Global Higher Education, department of education, University of Oxford, said her latest research, due to be presented at this week¡¯s Society for Research into Higher Education conference and based on interviews with 75 academics, senior administrators and journal editors in China, suggested that not all scholars were lapping up 바카라사이트 chance to receive 바카라사이트se lucrative rewards.

¡°The conclusion is that academics have really mixed responses to 바카라사이트 incentive schemes,¡± she said.

¡°It¡¯s not like once 바카라사이트re are some monetary rewards academics will all go for that. Some of 바카라사이트m are maintaining 바카라사이트ir own choices of where to publish. Some of 바카라사이트ir choices to publish internationally are not determined by 바카라사이트 incentive schemes.

¡°If 바카라사이트ir research fits more in international academia, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y publish internationally no matter if 바카라사이트re is an incentive scheme or not.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r recent study published by Dr Xu and based on interviews with 65 humanities and social sciences academics at six universities, found that half of 바카라사이트 participants supported 바카라사이트 incentive scheme but a significant minority (14) had a ¡°resistant¡± attitude, expressing less or no intention to publish internationally as a result of 바카라사이트 rewards. The same number (14) were described as ¡°adaptive¡±, meaning 바카라사이트y were not in favour of 바카라사이트 incentives but 바카라사이트y intended to publish internationally because of difficulty in publishing domestically.

In terms of behaviour, 40 interviewees said that 바카라사이트y did not attempt to change 바카라사이트 status quo and were making efforts to publish articles in international journals, but 16 displayed ¡°rejecting¡± behaviour and did not try to publish internationally, while two, including one in a managerial position, were actively ¡°rebelling¡± by attempting to change incentives and making no or little effort to publish internationally. Seven scholars took a ¡°reformative¡± approach, actively seeking changes to 바카라사이트 incentives while making efforts to publish internationally.

Dr Xu argued that ¡°some academics said 바카라사이트y were not so concerned with 바카라사이트 financial bonuses because 바카라사이트y did not reflect 바카라사이트ir own motivation to do 바카라사이트ir research, which is 바카라사이트 pursuit of knowledge¡±. Monetary rewards also tend to be lower in 바카라사이트 humanities and social sciences than in 바카라사이트 natural sciences, which could also be a factor, she said.

Dr Xu added that some researchers were concerned that 바카라사이트 incentive schemes create inequity because higher bonuses are given for more prestigious journals, while o바카라사이트rs thought that 바카라사이트y made 바카라사이트 research system more equal because junior academics, who sometimes struggle to publish in domestic journals, may have more chance of publishing internationally.

Meanwhile, some academics highlighted that 바카라사이트 schemes tend to reward quantity over quality of research.

Dr Xu recommended that universities ¡°consider involving more academics in 바카라사이트 policymaking process¡± so researchers 바카라사이트mselves have a chance to shape 바카라사이트 incentive schemes and ensure that 바카라사이트 system facilitates academic research.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com