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Article published In: Revista Española de Lingüística Aplicada/Spanish Journal of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 34:1 (2021) ► pp.83–118

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Academic writing and publishing

A focus on Spanish English-linguistics scholars’ self-reported attitudes, practices and perceptions as regards academic life and the creation and publication of their research articles

ORCiD logo with link | Universitat Jaume I
Published online: 22 July 2021
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/resla.18037.edo
Abstract
Among the challenges facing scholars at university today, producing quantity and quality publications with the highest possible impact is probably perceived by most of them as the greatest. This pressure places scholars before the well-known “publish or perish” dilemma, which each academic may perceive, confront and approach differently. This study aims to disclose and depict the reality behind the hand that writes, in particular, the attitudes, practices and perceptions of Spanish English-linguistics scholars in Spanish public universities regarding academic life and the creation and publication of their research articles. Accordingly, the human, perceptual and psycho-affective dimensions have proved essential in this study. The paper provides an overall view of the situation by summarising the quantitative findings of an extensive Questionnaire, as well as the qualitative outcomes obtained from a subsequent e-interview to scholars occupying different positions at Spanish public university, and provides an evidence-based foundation to foster more “author-friendly” practices.
Resumen
Escribir y publicar en el ámbito académico: Un enfoque en las actitudes, prácticas y percepciones autoevaluadas de los académicos españoles de lingüística inglesa en relación con la vida académica y la creación y publicación de sus artículos de investigación
Entre los desafíos a los que se enfrentan los académicos en la universidad actual, la cantidad y calidad de publicaciones producidas y el hecho de que éstas obtengan el mayor impacto posible es probablemente percibido por la mayoría de ellos como el más acuciante. Esta presión coloca a los académicos ante el conocido dilema de “publicar o perecer”, que cada uno puede percibir, enfrentar y abordar de manera diferente. Este estudio tiene como objetivo revelar y mostrar la realidad detrás de la mano que escribe, en particular, las actitudes, prácticas y percepciones de los académicos españoles de lingüística inglesa en las universidades públicas españolas con respecto a la vida académica y a la creación y publicación de sus artículos de investigación. En consecuencia, las dimensiones humana, perceptiva y psicoafectiva han demostrado ser esenciales en este estudio. El artículo proporciona una visión general de la situación al desgranar los resultados cuantitativos obtenidos mediante un extenso cuestionario, así como los resultados cualitativos originados en una entrevista electrónica posterior a académicos que ocupan diferentes puestos en la universidad pública española, y sienta las bases para fomentar prácticas más “amigables con el autor” basadas en las evidencias obtenidas.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical framework
    • 2.1Scholarly writing and publishing in English: General considerations
    • 2.2People under pressure: The psycho-social dimension of scientific writing and publishing and the “publish or perish” dilemma of Spanish researchers
  • 3.Method
  • 4.Results
  • 4.Discussion
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
References (33)
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Schnell, Bettina
2024. Multilingual Scholarly Publishing: Exploring the Perceptions, Attitudes, and Experiences of Plurilingual Scholars in Foreign Language Publication. The Journal of Electronic Publishing 27:1 DOI logo

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