Research Productivity, Publication Practices, and Research Ethics

An Academic Statement from Be Researcher World Forum (BRWF)

I. INTRODUCTION

Recent discourse within the global academic and research community has increasingly focused on issues related to research productivity, publication practices, and scholarly impact. Such discussions are valuable for critical self-reflection and institutional improvement; however, when interpreted narrowly or reduced to numerical indicators, they risk fostering misconceptions—particularly among students and early-career researchers navigating highly competitive and metric-driven academic environments [1], [2].

Contemporary evaluation systems often emphasize publication counts, citation-based indices, and short-term visibility, sometimes at the expense of methodological rigor, intellectual originality, and ethical integrity. Bibliometric and scientometric research has repeatedly cautioned that quantitative indicators, while informative, are imperfect proxies for research quality and should not be treated as standalone measures of scholarly competence or contribution [1], [2].

In this context, Be Researcher World Forum (BRWF) presents this academic statement to articulate its institutional position and to provide structured guidance grounded in ethical, responsible, and quality-driven research practices. The statement reflects BRWF’s long-standing commitment to research integrity, capacity building, and sustainable academic development, and is aligned with internationally recognized principles of responsible research conduct, including those articulated by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) [3] and the World Conference on Research Integrity [8].

II. RESEARCH TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING AT BRWF

Research is a systematic and cumulative endeavor that requires strong foundational knowledge, appropriate mentorship, methodological rigor, and sustained ethical awareness. In recognition of these requirements, BRWF has consistently emphasized research capacity building through structured and accessible educational initiatives.

BRBD serves as a comprehensive platform for both aspiring and established researchers, offering access to more than 500 lectures, tutorials, and workshops covering research methodologies, academic writing, publication practices, and preparation for higher studies [4]. These resources are designed to support researchers at different stages of their academic journeys and to promote responsible and quality-driven scholarship.

Within this broader educational framework, one of BRBD’s flagship initiatives is the course “How to Become a Researcher (HTBR)”, which provides systematic guidance on developing essential research skills and understanding the academic research ecosystem. The course is widely known as the “গবেষক হতে চাই লেকচার সিরিজ (Gorobeshok Hote Chai Lecture Series)” and has been designed to serve learners at different stages of their academic and research development.

The first version of the course, delivered in Bengali, has received more than 132,000 views, reflecting substantial engagement from students and early-stage researchers [5]. In response to this strong uptake and growing international interest, a second version was subsequently conducted for international audiences [6]. Building on the sustained demand and impact of the initiative, a third version of the course is scheduled to be organized in June 2026 [7].

A. Course Content

The HTBR course covers:

• Fundamentals of research and scholarly inquiry

• Literature review and identification of research gaps

• Research methodologies and tools

• Academic writing and publication processes

• Research ethics and academic integrity

B. Course Instructors

The course has been delivered by experienced researchers and educators:

• Dr. Md. Rasidul Islam, World’s Top 2% Cited Scientist; Postdoctoral Fellow, The University of Texas at Tyler, USA; Former Chairman, Dept. of EEE, Jamalpur Science & Technology University, Bangladesh; Co-Initiator, BRWF/BRBD [12]

• Md. Sabir Hossain, Assistant Professor (Study Leave), Dept. of CSE, Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET); PhD Scholar, ICS Department, KFUPM, KSA; Initiator, BRWF/BRBD [13]

• M. Nurul Amin, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pharmacy, Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology (ADUST); PhD Scholar, Pharmacy Department, University of Louisiana at Monroe, USA [14]

III. RESEARCH ETHICS AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

BRBD maintains a clear and consistent position that research integrity is foundational to scholarly work. Ethical considerations apply to all stages of research, from problem formulation and data collection to authorship and publication [3], [8].

BRBD explicitly discourages:

• Unethical or honorary authorship practices

• Plagiarism or inappropriate paraphrasing

• Quantity-driven or non-substantive publication practices

• Publication without meaningful intellectual contribution

To promote ethical awareness, BRBD provides dedicated instructional resources focusing on research integrity and responsible scholarly practices. These include the lectures “Research Ethics” [9], “Plagiarism and Methods for Avoidance” [10], and “Use of Plagiarism Detection and Paraphrasing Tools” [11]. Collectively, these instructional materials emphasize that originality, transparency, and strict adherence to ethical standards are fundamental criteria of scholarly merit and responsible academic conduct. 

IV. GUIDANCE FROM THE BRWF CHIEF ADVISOR

Prof. Dr. Saidur Rahman (Highly Cited Researcher [15])

According to Prof. Dr. Saidur Rahman, scholarly impact and citation visibility are outcomes of methodologically sound, relevant, and well-positioned research, rather than publication volume alone [16]. This perspective aligns with established bibliometric and scientometric studies demonstrating that research relevance and quality are primary drivers of citation impact.

Key elements emphasized include:

• Identifying impactful and timely research problems

• Engaging with emerging and high-impact research themes

• Monitoring influential and highly cited literature

• Publishing in reputable, high-quality (Q1) journals

• Developing well-structured and strategic review articles

• Establishing sustained local and international collaborations

• Maintaining long-term commitment and academic discipline

V. GUIDANCE FROM THE BRWF/BRBD INITIATOR

Md. Sabir Hossain (Assistant Professor, CUET)

From the perspective of early-career researcher development, Md. Sabir Hossain emphasizes that [17]:

• Research skills should be developed through guided practice, not passive learning

• Research should be conducted under the supervision of qualified and domain-relevant mentors

• Draft manuscripts should follow established, high-quality model papers

• Continuous feedback and revision are central to research improvement

• Journal and conference selection should prioritize quality and relevance

These principles align with widely accepted recommendations for sustainable academic career development.

VI. BRWF’S ACADEMIC POSITION

BRBD encourages researchers to:

• Prioritize research quality, originality, and relevance

• Uphold transparency and ethical authorship

• Develop subject-matter depth before emphasizing productivity

• Recognize research as a long-term scholarly endeavor
  
  

Conversely, BRBD advises against:

• Evaluating research competence solely based on publication numbers

• Allowing social or digital visibility to define academic merit

• Adopting short-term, metric-driven research practices

VII. CONCLUDING REMARKS

BRWF’s institutional objective is not to promote numerical publication targets, but to support the development of ethical, competent, and impactful researchers.

In academic scholarship, quality and integrity determine long-term credibility and influence, whereas publication quantity alone does not. This principle has guided BRWF since its establishment and will continue to inform its academic and educational activities.

Quality over Quantity — Always.

REFERENCES

[1] L. Bornmann and H.-D. Daniel, “What do citation counts measure? A review of studies on citing behavior,” Journal of Documentation, vol. 64, no. 1, pp. 45–80, 2008,  Link.
[2] J. E. Hirsch, “An index to quantify an individual’s scientific research output,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., vol. 102, no. 46, pp. 16569–16572, 2005, Link.
[3] Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), COPE Core Practices, 2023, Link.
[4] Be Researcher World Forum (BRWF), Educational Resources and Training Programs, Online Platform, 2024, Lectures.
[5] Be Researcher BD (BRBD), How to Become a Researcher (HTBR), Bengali Version, YouTube Playlist.
[6] Be Researcher World Forum (BRWF), How to Become a Researcher (HTBR), International Version, YouTube Playlist.
[7] Be Researcher BD (BRBD), How to Become a Researcher (HTBR), Version 3 Announcement, June 2026.
[8] World Conference on Research Integrity, Singapore Statement on Research Integrity, 2010, Link.
[9] Be Researcher BD (BRBD), Research Ethics Lecture, YouTube, 2023.
[10] Be Researcher BD (BRBD), Plagiarism and Methods for Avoidance, YouTube, 2023.
[11] Be Researcher BD (BRBD), Use of Plagiarism Detection and Paraphrasing Tools, YouTube, 2023.
[12] Md. Rasidul Islam, “Research Profile,” Google Scholar, Accessed: 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=_So8Ub4AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
[13] Md. Sabir Hossain, “Research Profile,” Google Scholar, Accessed: 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=wqff1vgAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
[14] M. Nurul Amin, “Research Profile,” Google Scholar, Accessed: 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?hl=en&user=EJUWngQAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate

[15] Saidur Rahman, “Research Profile,” Google Scholar, Accessed: 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=DEy33GsAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

[16] Saidur Rahman, "Online Seminar: Improving Academic Writing Skills in Publishing High Impact Journals", Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, June 2020,  [Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvrbU9LwN0Y&t=8679s

[17] Md. Sabir Hossain, "Episode 02: Research Trends in CSE: Motivation, Idea, Guidelines & Opportunities", Sylhet International University, 8 February 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T1TRLLJsoI&t=1856s