Frank Batini
Two hundred years ago, a university was judged on the quality of its teaching, today it is on its research output. While there are many dedicated academics who produce useful research, the “publish or perish’ syndrome can also lead to undesirable outcomes.
I heard recently that a retired scientist published 400 peer-reviewed papers, as well as two books in a 40 year career. I calculated that a paper was produced, on average, every five weeks. This includes design, establishment, measurements pre and post treatment, data analysis and write up, peer-review and finally publication in a prestigious journal. I have experience in management and research, and in my 60-year career have published about a dozen articles and wondered, how is this possible?
I then contacted a friend who is a science professor at a university. He told me that, apart from all his other duties, the university expect that he will publish between five and ten papers a year. His comments on peer-review were also illuminating. In the past, reviewers offered two or three pages of detailed comment. Now they are all so busy that a couple of paragraphs are the best he can expect. Academia is drowning us in peer-reviewed publications. It’s all about the number of papers, not their relevance or quality.
As an example I read a paper published in a recognised Australian journal where the data presented in a key table were incorrect by up to a factor of 10. This was not just a simple mathematical mistake but due to a fundamental error in the design. It showed me that none of the authors (and reviewers) understood how to perform the proper measurements and also didn’t have the “feel” to realise the data were so wrong. I contacted one of the senior authors and asked how they had missed such a glaring mistake. The reply, “I was very busy and only just glanced at it”.
In the past, if your name was on a paper it indicated that you had made a significant contribution. These days there are 5, 10, 15 and up to 30 names on each paper. One institute has the same professor’s name on nearly every paper that is published.
There is also what I call “the Vivaldi effect” in research. A prolific baroque composer, the “red priest” from Venice wrote over 300 concertos, including the “Four Seasons”. However, critics have commented on his works as follows: “300 concertos…. or one concerto repeated 300 times?”
Another favourite variation is “The academic merry-go-round”. Here, eight to ten friends and “world authorities” take turns writing basically the same paper, but disguise this by changing the lead author and journal each time.
I am involved in an experiment which looks at the effects of thinning on tree health. I measured the treatment effects after four years, and then, to make sure that the observed trends were maintained, another eight years later. Ah, the luxury of time.
Frank Batini MSc (Oxon), BSc (UWA), Dip For (AFS), previously an Adjunct Professor of Environmental Science at Murdoch University has 60 years of experience as a forester, environmental manager and consultant in the management of natural resources.
Related articles: Failure of peer review: Jack Bradshaw; The role of academics in influencing the perceived threat from climate change: Frank Batini.
