Knowledge of predatory publishing: a case study of Malawi University of business and applied sciences
| dc.contributor.author | Mvula, Stuart Pearson | |
| dc.contributor.supervisor | Chiware, Elisha | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-10-03T08:00:32Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-10-03T08:00:32Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2022 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study investigated knowledge of predatory publishing amongst academics and researchers at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS). The underlying aim of the study was to develop evidence-based recommendations that could limit the practice of predatory publishing and its associated effects. This study was underpinned by two theoretical frameworks namely, the Prestige Maximisation Model of Higher Education Institutions and the Elite Journals (Prestige model) as well as the Principal Agent Theory. A post-positivist research paradigm was used, and a sequential explanatory design was applied to collect data for the study. A total of 95 academics and including research-scientists were surveyed and eight (8) professors were interviewed face-to-face using an interview guide. The quantitative data was collected online through the use of Google Forms while face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data. The quantitative data was analysed using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Excel while qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. Although the study findings established that most faculty members were aware of the terms “predatory publishing” and “predatory conferences”, there was limited knowledge about the tools and systems used to check predatory journals and quality of research outputs. Furthermore, the study also established that 19% of the respondents had fallen prey to predatory publishing. The study showed that predatory publishing affects research budgets, ranking and reputation of universities. Predatory publishing also affects career-progression of faculty members and causes harm to the process of scientific knowledge production. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10566/16231 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Universty of the Western Cape | |
| dc.subject | Predatory publishing | |
| dc.subject | Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences | |
| dc.subject | Higher Education Institutions | |
| dc.subject | Open Access Publishers | |
| dc.subject | Beall’s list | |
| dc.title | Knowledge of predatory publishing: a case study of Malawi University of business and applied sciences | |
| dc.type | Thesis |