This is a question close to my heart (and one I have been chewing on ever since listening to a presentation by a fellow PhD researcher on the subject). As someone who has almost drowned in the academic swamp, I need to keep re-evaluating why I am doing what I am doing.
Some academics deceive themselves into believing their research is important to society, whereas others simply admit they are doing it to advance their careers. I believe research should be meaningful beyond self-advancement, but sadly it rarely is. I don’t know how to fix this, especially as I too want my research published and recognised. I wonder how much research would get published if authorship were anonymous and if career progression was not dependent on publication records?
Here is an excerpt from my PhD proposal:
‘…this research will inform practice for welfare organisations and private cat guardians.’…. ‘….., my research will contribute to the development of more effective educational resources ….’.
This could so easily be meaningless fluff, used to woe funders or appease public interest groups. I don’t want this to be so. I want to help cats and the people who care for them. I also want to support the research and learning of my colleagues and encourage non-traditional students to succeed in academia.
To keep myself grounded, I have the following questions pinned to my desk:
Why am I doing this?
What is my purpose as an academic researcher?
Academic Cat Lady 