Unintended Consequences of Publish-or-Perish: Rethinking Research Evaluation Policies

The academic world thrives on research, innovation, and the dissemination of knowledge. However, an increasing emphasis on publication metrics as a determinant of career progression, funding, and tenure has placed immense pressure on researchers. In many universities and research institutions worldwide, faculty members and scholars must publish in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals, particularly those indexed in Web of Science and Scopus. While this requirement intends to maintain high research standards, the unintended consequence has been the proliferation of unethical publishing practices as researchers struggle to meet these demands.