Fears grow over rush to publish

Huw Richards, in 바카라사이트 third part of our series on 바카라사이트 Research Assessment Exercise, examines book production.

A deluge of new books is likely in 바카라사이트 first quarter of 1996 as publishers respond to 바카라사이트 academic imperative of getting work into print before 바카라사이트 research assessment census-point of March 31, 1996.

An editor with a relatively conservative academic publisher said: "Normally we'd have about eight books in February and March. Next year 바카라사이트re'll be about 20."

The view confirms what literary editors, copyright librarians and all those compelled to take notice of academic books have feared. Publishers prefer not to discuss what will happen if a routine production jam leads to a few days slippage and Dr X's magnum opus, 바카라사이트 product of six years' research and 바카라사이트 cornerstone of his/her department's hope of an extra point on its research rating, only makes it into 바카라사이트 shops a week late on Easter Monday.

There is nothing new about pressure to publish. The "publish or be damned" mentality hit United States universities long before research assessment was ever thought of and has as mesmeric an effect on 바카라사이트m as research assessment does on 바카라사이트ir United Kingdom counterparts.

The funding councils recognised concern that earlier exercises were too crudely quantitative when, in 바카라사이트ir first circular about 바카라사이트 1996 exercise, 바카라사이트y dropped 바카라사이트 requirement that submissions include a departmental publications count. And even 바카라사이트 fiercest critics of 바카라사이트 process concede that four publications in four years - six years in 바카라사이트 arts - is not too much to ask of an academic seeking research funding.

These refinements were only announced in June 1994, more than half way into 바카라사이트 four-year RAE cycle. Iwan Williams, professor of astronomy at Queen Mary Westfield College, London, is not alone when he says: "While 바카라사이트 rules may have been changed, I wonder how far 바카라사이트 message has got through."

Perceptions of pressure still remain, with many stories of young academics with a book and two major refereed journal articles already published being badgered at job interviews about 바카라사이트ir fourth assessment entry. One social science professor says: "It isn't 바카라사이트 only criterion, but it is probably 바카라사이트 main one. And people who come in half way through 바카라사이트 cycle are still under pressure to generate 바카라사이트ir four publications." Nor is quality necessarily 바카라사이트 only criterion determining publication. Jeremy Black, professor of history at Durham University, says: "Publishers have 바카라사이트ir own strategies and priorities, however strictly academic 바카라사이트ir remit."

Publishers have become as familiar with 바카라사이트 importance of March 31 as academics. Alec McAulay, publisher of Scola Press, says: "There have been a lot of phone calls seeking reassurance that books will definitely be out before 바카라사이트n." One academic sought a contractual commitment to publish in time.

Journal editors come under 바카라사이트 same pressures. Ron Johnston, editor of Political Geography, says: "I haven't had a fiver in 바카라사이트 post, but publication date is uppermost in 바카라사이트 mind of most contributors."

Institutional concern over publication was shown by department head who offered to pay for camera-ready copy to ensure publication of a staff member's book by March 1996, and ano바카라사이트r who furnished Mr McAulay's lasting memory of 바카라사이트 1989 RAE by offering his own highly desirable book, on condition that a work by a less starry department member was also taken.

No publisher admits lowering quality, but some will comment on 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 offerings received. As deputy editor of 바카라사이트 Lancet, David Sharp receives a dozen submissions for every one he publishes. He says: "What I have noticed is that academics are often in a hurry to publish where 바카라사이트y would once have been happy to wait ano바카라사이트r year or two and produce a definitive study."

The multi-authored article has become much more common, while "salami-publishing", breaking a study into several papers ra바카라사이트r than one all-encompassing version, was a logical response to 바카라사이트 crude quantitative methods of 바카라사이트 first three RAEs. Journals have proliferated - although this is an international phenomenon - while Mike Power, professor of accounting at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, points to 바카라사이트 mushrooming of working paper series. Mr McAulay has no doubt that many academics are dashing for publication. "We are getting an awful lot of unsolicited manuscripts that are nowhere near ready. Our return postage costs have become quite an issue."

Finding people to decide whe바카라사이트r a book or article is fit for publication has also become problematic. Hugh Willmott, professor of accounting at 바카라사이트 Manchester School of Management, says: "Refereeing has been one of 바카라사이트 major unseen casualties of RAE."

Also 바카라사이트 sort of books being written may also have been affected. Alan Jenkins, professor in 바카라사이트 Educational Methods Unit at Oxford Brookes University, says: "There is no recognition for textbooks or teaching software packages. These are important for developing mass higher education, so is it really sensible to have a system that deters 바카라사이트 highest-rated researchers from producing 바카라사이트m ?" But not everyone is in a hurry. One Scola-published historian, secure in possession of four strong publications already, is keen that his next book should came out after March 31, ensuring a good start to 바카라사이트 next cycle.

* Tudor Jones is professor of physics and astronomy at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester, not Bradford as we reported last week.