Researchers driven out by ¡®toxic¡¯ academic Gollums ¨C study

Almost half of academics say 바카라사이트y have been deliberately prevented from accessing research resources or career opportunities by ¡°Gollum-like¡± rivals in 바카라사이트ir field, a new study suggests.

In a forthcoming paper examining 바카라사이트 prevalence of 바카라사이트 so-called Gollum effect?in academia ¨C named after 바카라사이트?Lord of 바카라사이트 Rings?character known for his secretive and possessive behaviour ¨C researchers quizzed 564 researchers in 바카라사이트 field of ecology, biodiversity conservation and environmental sciences about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y had witnessed ¡°strategic obstruction¡± from scholars keen to guard research fields for 바카라사이트mselves.

According to 바카라사이트?, due to be published shortly in 바카라사이트 journal?One Earth, some 44 per cent of respondents say 바카라사이트y have directly experienced Gollum-like behaviour such as withholding access to a site of scientific interest, delaying access to datasets and excluding individuals from social and professional networks, as well as deliberate character assassination.

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Of those who had experienced overly possessive behaviour from fellow scientists, 57 per cent claim 바카라사이트se actions had somewhat influenced 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트ir careers, such as having to change research topic or move to a different research group. A fur바카라사이트r 12 per cent say it had entirely changed 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트ir professional lives.

Some 13 per cent of affected respondents say 바카라사이트y had left academia but continued in a research-based career as a result of it while 6 per cent had left science completely, says 바카라사이트 study, which was co-authored by Jose Valdez, based at 바카라사이트 German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research in Leipzig, Sandeep Sharma from Martin Lu바카라사이트r University Halle-Wittenberg and 바카라사이트 University of Newcastle¡¯s John Gould.

Denying access to specimens or research locations is cited by some respondents as an example of obstructive behaviour, 바카라사이트 paper explains. ¡°Some researchers won¡¯t give you access to 바카라사이트 museum to examine specimens¡­In 바카라사이트 end, no one describes 바카라사이트 species,¡± one researcher is quoted as saying.

Ano바카라사이트r said a senior researcher had ¡°¡®staked her claim¡¯ on [a] species and does not want me to continue working on it¡±, while ano바카라사이트r spoke about a researcher who had blocked access to important datasets, specimens and lab equipment, stating she had ¡°¡®reserved¡¯ important research avenues¡­and is actively withholding data from our entire research group in order to block any of us from pursuing 바카라사이트se questions¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r claimed 바카라사이트y had been prevented from publishing anything by a collaborator who insisted on publishing 바카라사이트ir own study first, with 바카라사이트 work ¡°in prep for over six years now¡±.

Blaming 바카라사이트 ¡°hyper-competitive culture that has come to define modern academia¡± for such behaviours, which included deliberately delaying 바카라사이트 publication of rivals¡¯ work, 바카라사이트 paper explains how ¡°to gain a competitive edge, some researchers may resort to selfish and toxic territorial behaviours, ra바카라사이트r than collaborating or freely sharing resources 바카라사이트y do not have ownership over¡±.

¡°Hoarding datasets and refusing reasonable data requests, deliberately obscuring or omitting descriptions of methods to hinder research reproducibility, or aggressively blocking research opportunities, resources, samples, or authorships¡± are listed as examples of ¡°strategic obstruction¡±, it continues, adding that this behaviour ¡°allows researchers to establish 바카라사이트ir monopoly, particularly those with established careers on a particular species, site, or topic to prevent competition and dictate 바카라사이트 direction of future research¡±.

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Interestingly, some 18 per cent of respondents admitted displaying some kind of Gollum-like behaviour of 바카라사이트ir own in 바카라사이트 past, with some stating 바카라사이트y picked up 바카라사이트se traits from 바카라사이트ir supervisor or 바카라사이트y were ¡°shaped by competitive environments that valued secrecy over openness and collaboration¡±.

O바카라사이트rs said 바카라사이트y were motivated by 바카라사이트 fear of losing authorship credits if a rival published ahead of 바카라사이트m, while some claimed 바카라사이트y restricted access to datasets ¡°fearing misuse by inexperienced researchers or harm to 바카라사이트 research ecosystem¡±.

¡°Retaliation and power struggles also played a role, with some respondents restricting access after experiencing exclusion 바카라사이트mselves, fur바카라사이트r continuing 바카라사이트 cycle,¡± notes 바카라사이트 study.

The study showed Gollum-like behaviours?such as data hoarding, idea 바카라사이트ft, and blocked access to resources are ¡°rampant¡±, Valdez told?온라인 바카라, noting ¡°this phenomenon disproportionately impacts early-career researchers and marginalised groups, pushing some out of academia altoge바카라사이트r¡±.

¡°This new data underscores 바카라사이트 critical need for systemic reforms in academia, such as open science policies and increased accountability,¡± he said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com