The battle-hardened academic: an exploration of the resilience of university academics in the face of ongoing criticism and rejection of their research

Abstract

ABSTRACT Academics working in higher education institutions often take part in research activities as part of their role and are often under pressure to publish papers and source grant funding. In addition, academics going through the peer review process often experience negative feedback, criticism, and rejection on a regular basis. In this initial, small-scale, exploratory study, data was collected to answer the question: What factors influence the resilience of academics when receiving criticism and rejection of their research? Participants (8 female, 4 male) were academics from the Faculty of Health Sciences at a university in Australia. Participants were from varying levels of appointment and all had a research component in their current role. The emotional, behavioural, and cognitive responses to rejection and criticism – and the strategies used to manage these responses – were explored through semi-structured interviews. Three themes emerged from the data following thematic analysis: beliefs and values, experience, and external context. Results revealed that the experience of rejection and criticism has a significant impact on the emotional functioning of academics. These emotional responses are influenced by the academic environment, years of academic experience, and the individual’s interpretation of feedback received. Further research would benefit from interviewing academics from different countries and faculties, and academics who have exited academia. This study offers insights into strategies that may assist academics to remain resilient in high-pressure university settings.