Research question or questionable research?

Research in an academic world is an unequivocal criterion for promotion. This being the situation, leaves little option for individuals; publish or perish is the law of the academic world. This is the reason there is such a concern regarding authorship, intellectual property rights and plagiarism. Recently, there was a lot of mudslinging, in public domain, regarding a ‘thesis theft’.1 Though this equates to washing dirt linen in public, there is a lesson for all individuals in academic positions. In an academic world in Pakistan, one sees a flurry of publication just prior to a promotion. Subsequently, the pulse line or academic brain-waves seize to function beyond Beta waves ‐ a state of somnolence. Critical question is: why people do research besides this compulsion? Some do research for the sake of inquisitiveness, while other do it for the sake of discovering the mysteries of science. There might be less noble reasons like fame and recognition. Dictionary defines research as “diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover or revise facts, theories, and applications”.2 The logical next question is do we have the critical mass of individuals engaged in this systematic search? Facts are contrary to claims. Worthwhile research output does not match with the number of professors in all the disciplines. Knowledge generated in academic centres of Pakistan is abysmally low; most of it is reproduction of facts, while some is blatant plagiarism. Others resort to more tactful means, like claiming other peoples’ work as their own, using their position and authority. At times, research-thesis meets the same fate as poacher’s ivory; supervisors utilize the literaturereview, discussion or some other relevant component of the paper. This creates a culture of exploitation, rivalry and negative competition.