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Research orientation without regrets

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  • Messner, Martin

Abstract

The objective of this essay is to reflect upon the quest for “research orientation” that can be observed in many Continental European academic institutions these days. Building upon my own observations as well as the experiences of other accounting academics, I suggest that the quest for research orientation brings along both opportunities and threats for the academic communities in these countries. On one hand, it allows for an increased recognition of one's research efforts and often goes along with (pertinent segments of) the international community becoming more open and accessible to the individual researcher. On the other hand, however, the quest for research orientation seems to bring with it an increased homogenization in our understanding of what good research means and, thus, poses a threat for the diversity of our community. Based on these observations, I provide some ideas regarding the possibility of achieving a flourishing research culture without regrets, i.e., one that preserves values or activities that are arguably critical for the sustainable development of our discipline.

Suggested Citation

  • Messner, Martin, 2015. "Research orientation without regrets," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 76-83.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:crpeac:v:26:y:2015:i:c:p:76-83
    DOI: 10.1016/j.cpa.2013.05.013
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Tucker, Basil P. & Tilt, Carol A., 2019. "‘You know it when you see it’: In search of ‘the ideal’ research culture in university accounting faculties," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    5. Palea, Vera, 2017. "Whither accounting research? A European view," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 59-73.
    6. Becker, Albrecht & Lukka, Kari, 2023. "Instrumentalism and the publish-or-perish regime," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    7. Christoph Pelger & Markus Grottke, 2017. "Research diversity in accounting doctoral education: survey results from the German-speaking countries," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 10(2), pages 307-336, October.
    8. Palea, Vera, 2015. "Journal Rankings and the Sustainability of Diversity in Accounting Research," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 201546, University of Turin.
    9. Paola Ramassa & Francesco Avallone & Alberto Quagli, 2024. "Can “publishing game” pressures affect the research topic choice? A survey of European accounting researchers," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 28(2), pages 507-542, June.
    10. Meyer, Matthias & Waldkirch, Rüdiger W. & Duscher, Irina & Just, Alexander, 2018. "Drivers of citations: An analysis of publications in “top” accounting journals," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 24-46.
    11. Pelger, Christoph & Grottke, Markus, 2015. "What about the future of the academy? – Some remarks on the looming colonisation of doctoral education," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 117-129.
    12. Christoph Endenich & Rouven Trapp, 2016. "Cooperation for Publication? An Analysis of Co-authorship Patterns in Leading Accounting Journals," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(3), pages 613-633, September.
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