Scholars and Researchers
Are scholars and researchers the same? This question has been roiling academic circles for years. In a nutshell, scholars do not see themselves as the same thing. Scholars, on the other hand, value many aspects of the traditional publishing model. For instance, they value peer review, believing that the final published version of an article stamps quality and vettedness. Scholars share their work with the expectation that it will eventually be cited and reprinted.
The definition of a scholar varies greatly, but generally describes someone engaged in an intellectual activity such as research scholars and study. The term scholars can include advanced students, researchers, people devoted to religion, writing, or independent research. Scholars can be viewed as an important part of the educational system, as evidenced by a large number of awards that contain the word “scholar.” A notable scholar is Thomas Watson, who gave us the modern microscope and named bacteria animalcules. His discoveries paved the way for many important advances in medicine and technology.
The distinction between a scholar and a researcher can be tricky, but in general, academics share some characteristics of both. For example, biochemists can solve a fundamental problem while designing new drugs. Scholars who engage in interdisciplinary research can combine projects with different orientations, as each can inspire each other. The term “ambidexterity” is also applied to the responsibilities of individual scholars.
Are Scholars and Researchers the Same?
Scholars, on the other hand, have two distinct communities. Scholars focus on both academic and commercial output, but they can also be engaged in both. The research-oriented scholars aim to publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals, while the practice-oriented scholars strive to develop products and services. Scholars’ goals and interests differ significantly, and their outputs go through distinct review processes. Scholars’ publications are peer-reviewed by academic communities, whereas those of practitioners focus on commercial activities.
In addition to the difference between scholars and researchers, copyright issues also play an important role. Copyright protects researchers’ ideas, but the commercial publishing industry deliberately hampers research and results. Researchers often view copyright embargoes as an unnecessary obstacle to their work. Researchers often view embargoes as an attempt to monetize academic labor. Scholars say that embargoes harm the individual scholar, as well as the academic community as a whole.
As far as citations go, sharing of scholarly articles is integral to the process of research. Scholars actively share their articles to benefit their peers and the public. Scholars also share their articles on social networks and other platforms for the purpose of discovery and dissemination of knowledge. So, while sharing is not a necessity for scholarship, it is essential to the process of discovery. However, scholars also share their articles for other purposes, including self-promotion and citations.