Taiwanese Researchers' Perceptions of Questionable Authorship Practices: An Exploratory Study

Area of Science:

• Academic Integrity
• Research Ethics
• Social Sciences

Background:

• A 2014 scandal involving retracted articles by Taiwanese researchers highlighted issues in academic authorship.
• Lack of transparency in authorship decision-making processes was disclosed following the SAGE Publications incident.
• This study addresses the need for empirical research on questionable authorship practices (QAPs) in East Asian academia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate Taiwanese researchers' perceptions of questionable authorship practices (QAPs).
• To identify the underlying causes and motivations for engaging in QAPs among different academic ranks.
• To explore the prevalence and reporting of QAPs within Taiwanese academia.

Main Methods:

• A self-reported survey was developed and administered to 403 researchers in Taiwan.
• Participants included doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and research faculty (professors).
• Data analysis examined factors influencing perceptions of QAPs, including academic rank, discipline, and affiliation.

Main Results:

• Doctoral students engage in QAPs due to academic success desires and reciprocal obligations.
• Research faculty and postdoctoral fellows engage in QAPs for career advancement and network consolidation.
• Participants acknowledged QAPs as historically prevalent but rarely reported in local academia.
• Academic rank, research discipline, and affiliation type significantly affected responses, while gender did not.

Conclusions:

• Questionable authorship practices (QAPs) are a critical issue in Taiwanese academia.
• Findings have implications for academic instruction, emphasizing the need for ethical training.
• Further research is recommended to address the complexities of QAPs in academic settings.