Identification of Writing Patterns, Motivations, and Barriers to Publishing Articles by Faculty Members in the Humanities Departments of the University of Tabriz in Perestigious International Journals

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 . Associate Professor, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

3 M.A. student of Scientometrics, Department of Knowledge and In-formation Science, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

Abstract

Purpose: To advance development, countries must prioritize research and its associated activities. They should enhance motivation within research centers. Accordingly, the publication of scientific outputs resulting from faculty research is currently a fundamental requirement and, in some cases, mandatory at universities. However, despite the efforts and successes achieved in policy-making, design, implementation, and oversight of research, numerous obstacles and limitations hinder the conduct of research. Therefore, numerous studies have been conducted to examine the research obstacles, motivations, and authorship patterns of researchers. In the same vein, the current study aims to determine the authorship patterns, motivations, and barriers to publishing articles by faculty members in the humanities departments of the University of Tabriz in prestigious international journals.
Methodology: The methodology employed in this research was quantitative. This approach was utilized to align with the research objectives, and a survey was conducted for data collection. The population for this research comprised all 130 faculty members from the humanities departments at the University of Tabriz. Given the limited size of the population, a complete survey was conducted without any sampling. A questionnaire was utilized to investigate the authorship patterns, motivations, and barriers to publishing articles within the studied group. The questionnaire consisted of two sections. The first section focused on gathering demographic information from the respondents. The second section included items related to the primary objectives and research questions of this study. All items were adapted from existing literature. The content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by experts in the field of scientometrics. In addition, the reliability of the questionnaire was estimated to be 0.84 using the test-retest method. The data were analyzed using SPSS software.
Findings: The relevance of the journal to the research topic was the most significant criterion for the research population when selecting journals for article submission. Most faculty members participating in this study were either the first or corresponding authors for one to five articles in the past two years. They also reported that the average time required to publish an article in the humanities is typically one to two years. Most individuals who publish articles in prestigious international journals require financial support for translation, writing, open access fees, and publication costs. The results indicate that the primary barriers to publishing in these journals include unfamiliarity with research principles and methods, time constraints, challenges in coordinating with co-authors, and reviewer bias towards certain articles.
On the other hand, conducting professional workshops led by the country's top professors on publishing articles in international journals, increasing the research budget, supporting university officials in research and policy-making, and developing a comprehensive research strategy at the university can be regarded as the most significant factors in enhancing motivation to publish in prestigious international journals. The primary requirements for faculty members in the humanities departments at the University of Tabriz for writing articles intended for publication in prestigious international journals include translating the article into English, composing the manuscript, conducting a critical review of the literature, managing feedback from co-authors, and drafting responses to reviewers. From the perspective of the faculty members in the Humanities departments at the University of Tabriz, the primary reasons for the rejection of their articles by prestigious international journals were the inadequate quality of English writing, overall poor writing quality, and an excessive reliance on Persian sources.
Conclusion: In general, the key motivating factors for publishing articles in prestigious international journals can be categorized into two main areas: knowledge and financial incentives. The primary motivations for the humanities faculty at the University of Tabriz to publish articles include career advancement, pressure from organizational administration, the dissemination of new ideas and findings, recognition and reputation among colleagues, and financial gain. It is important to recognize that these needs and motivations drive both individual and organizational progress. Any organization that effectively cultivates and manages these factors is likely to achieve strong research performance. In this context, universities should prioritize motivations stemming from faculty members' aspirations for scientific and organizational advancement, rather than succumbing to external and administrative pressures. Additionally, it has been observed that many humanities faculty members at the University of Tabriz require enhanced coordination skills to improve collaboration with co-authors. They also require additional support in conducting critical and analytical literature reviews, as well as in responding to reviewers. The challenge of coordinating among colleagues arises from the diverse educational backgrounds, research interests, and professional commitments of faculty members. This issue can be alleviated by utilizing research assistants, whether they are graduate students or university staff. However, the necessity for a critical and analytical literature review is a fundamental knowledge requirement that entails conducting workshops and collaborating with experienced writers. Ultimately, the findings of this research can inform the university's research policy in the humanities.

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References

 
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