Publishing in potentially predatory journals: Do universities adopt university leaders’ dishonest behavior?

With the development of science digitalization, it became possible to detect dishonest behavior. The increasing magnitude of predatory publishing has boosted scientific research on the topic. While studies on university leaders’ impact concentrate mainly on its positive effects on organizational performance, to date, little is known about whether academic leaders can negatively influence the organizations they lead depending on their engagement in academic misconduct. Using a sample of Russian universities and their leaders from 2010–2020, I ask whether universities tend to adopt leaders’ dishonest behavior. Specifically, I analyzed whether universities increase publications in potentially predatory journals after a leader with such a record enters the office. Relying on a culture theory of academic misconduct, I discuss the role-related factors that contribute to a leader’s influence over employees. I focus on whether the leader’s influence relates to external incentives for universities to publish more, the leader’s career development type, or the leader’s and university’s research area. The findings demonstrate that the share of publications in potentially predatory journals tends to increase if a leader with such publications assumes office, especially if the university is research-oriented. The results suggest that academic reputation of a leader matters to the university’s consequent misconduct.

随着科研数字化的发展，检测学术不端行为（academic misconduct）成为可能。掠夺性出版（predatory publishing）规模的持续扩张，推动了该主题领域的科学研究。尽管现有关于高校领导影响力的研究主要聚焦于其对组织绩效的积极影响，但截至目前，学界尚不清楚学术领导者是否会因其参与学术不端行为，而对其所执掌的机构产生负面影响。本研究采用2010至2020年俄罗斯高校及其领导者的样本，探讨高校是否会效仿领导者的不端行为。具体而言，本研究分析了当存在掠夺性出版记录的领导者上任后，高校在潜在掠夺性出版期刊（potentially predatory journals）上的发文量是否会提升。本研究依托学术不端行为的文化理论（culture theory of academic misconduct），探讨了与角色相关的影响领导者对下属施加影响力的因素。本研究重点关注领导者的影响力是否与高校扩大发文的外部激励、领导者的职业发展类型，以及领导者与高校的研究领域相关。研究结果显示，若存在此类发文记录的领导者上任，高校在潜在掠夺性出版期刊上的发文占比往往会上升，尤其是在研究型高校中。研究结果表明，领导者的学术声誉会对高校后续的学术不端行为产生显著影响。