Theron Muller (Waseda University, Japan)
Alaa Salem (University of Toyama, Japan)
John Adamson (University of Niigata Prefecture, Japan)
Abstract
Bibliometrics and scientometrics are the de facto way to evaluate scholarly research output. However, relying on citation counts to frame scholarly productivity, and the journal citation indexes that power such analyses, is problematic. In this presentation, we will reference data from an ongoing document analysis project examining faculty publication activity at a Japanese national university, illustrating how journal citation indexes are limited to the papers that they include, meaning they do not give a complete picture of scholarly output. Further, reliance on outsourcing of evaluation metrics should be problematized. We propose better understanding of academic authors’ spectrum of knowledge production beyond a narrow focus on indexed journal citation analysis. Citation analysis creates a problematic ecosystem where scholars are pushed toward publishing trending topics to meet institutional requirements concerning publication metrics. This favors English language publication over other languages, impoverishing language diversity and simultaneously narrowing the focus of scholarly discourse.
ESBB Featured Session: Workshop (In person, 50 minutes)
Applied Linguistics / Second Language Acquisition
Primarily of Interest to Teachers of University Students
About the Presenters
Theron Muller is an associate professor at Waseda University’s Faculty of Human Sciences. He received his doctorate from The Open University, UK, in 2018, research that explored the publication practices of Japan-based language teachers. He has published and presented widely on writing for academic publication, English language teaching and learning, and teacher development. He is a founding member of ESBB. (In person)
Alaa Salem is a research assistant at the University of Toyama working on the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science grant research, “Investigating the Writing for Publication Practices of Japan-Based Authors.” She is originally from Egypt, where she completed her CELTA certificate. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in cognitive psychology at the University of Toyama, Japan. (Online)
John L. Adamson is a professor at the University of Niigata Prefecture in Japan. He received his Ed.D. from the University of Leicester and has pursued research in EMI, CLIL, and EAP/ESP at the university level; interdisciplinarity; self-access; and academic publishing. He is also a founding member of ESBB. (Online)
