A1 Journal article (refereed)
De-naturalizing the “predatory” : A study of “bogus” publications at public sector universities in Pakistan (2024)

Ali Shah, W., Ali, R., & Lashari, A. (2024). De-naturalizing the “predatory” : A study of “bogus” publications at public sector universities in Pakistan. Accountability in Research, 31(2), 80-99. https://doi.org/10.1080/08989621.2022.2106424

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Ali Shah, Waqar; Ali, Rukhsana; Lashari, Asadullah

Journal or series: Accountability in Research

ISSN: 0898-9621

eISSN: 1545-5815

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 01/08/2022

Volume: 31

Issue number: 2

Pages range: 80-99

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08989621.2022.2106424

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/82672

Abstract

Predatory publishing has recently emerged as a menace in academia. University professors and researchers often exploit this practice for their economic gains and institutional prestige. The present study investigates such existing predatory publishing practices in Pakistani public sector universities using Bourdieu’s (1991) concept of symbolic violence. For this purpose, we analyzed 495 articles published by 50 university professors in the social sciences and humanities over the period 2017-2021. We also conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 postgraduate students to gather their perspectives on publishing practices. The study shows that 69% of the sample papers were published in predatory journals, as identified in Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) online journal recognition system (HJRS). Postgraduate students’ insights inform the study that the students misrecognize these malpractices in academia as a problem what Bourdieu (1991) calls ‘symbolic violence’. Consequently, they engage in the process to increase their publications. Such publications enable both the university professors and the students to achieve the desired benefit, such as promotions, tenure, and academic degrees. We recommend that this practice must be altered at the policy level since it not only violates the HEC’s standards for quality research but also damages the researchers’ credibility and country’s scientific reputation.

Keywords: research ethics; science publishingscientific journals; publicationsuniversities; ; ; researchers; financiers; quality; reputation; scientific communities

Free keywords: de-naturalization; predatory publishing; symbolic violence; public sector universities; Pakistan

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1