Plato: “Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.”
Researchers are under enormous pressure in the academia. This pressure has coined the term "publish or perish" which means a researcher has to publish frequently high-quality research results. It is considered as the strength of a scientist if he/she continuously publishes in journals.
For an early career researcher, this would make it possible to secure a tenure-track position in an academic institution. Senior scientists, also often tend to show off their competency in research by showing off the statistic of their publication records.
Nowadays, one of the most common questions in the academia is “how many papers have you published?” or similar questions about citations or H-index. Some others look at the impact factor of the journal one publishes as a measure of the success. However, many scientists believe one should ask “what contributions have you made?”
Unfortunately, the demands of the academic system, to publish more and more, enforces many academics to publish without having a novel idea, or even a new result. Such issues could be avoided, if qualitative measures are introduced and used rather quantitative measures to judge the performance of a researcher.
For an early career researcher, this would make it possible to secure a tenure-track position in an academic institution. Senior scientists, also often tend to show off their competency in research by showing off the statistic of their publication records.
Nowadays, one of the most common questions in the academia is “how many papers have you published?” or similar questions about citations or H-index. Some others look at the impact factor of the journal one publishes as a measure of the success. However, many scientists believe one should ask “what contributions have you made?”
Unfortunately, the demands of the academic system, to publish more and more, enforces many academics to publish without having a novel idea, or even a new result. Such issues could be avoided, if qualitative measures are introduced and used rather quantitative measures to judge the performance of a researcher.
