If there is a researcher who is currently not associated with any research institution, university or college , for example he is un-employed or doing his own business etc. , who is interested in doing research using his own resources what can he do. On option is that he can show his affiliation with his ex-institute but as a matter of fact he is not actually doing research with that institution. What can he do in this situation please suggest some feasible options. And finally if he shows his affiliation with his ex-institute is it against any publication laws/ethics?
Hi,
Usually a researcher who is not affiliated with any research institution is defined as "independent researcher", and I have seen several independent researchers who are participating in RG.
The researcher who is not affiliated with any institution should be careful not to mention his former institution in presenting research results or personal opinion. I have heard cases in which an institution sued a professor who left the institution but still related himself to his ex-institution.
Hi,
Usually a researcher who is not affiliated with any research institution is defined as "independent researcher", and I have seen several independent researchers who are participating in RG.
The researcher who is not affiliated with any institution should be careful not to mention his former institution in presenting research results or personal opinion. I have heard cases in which an institution sued a professor who left the institution but still related himself to his ex-institution.
Indeed, that's correct. I've also come across "Independent Scholar" "Private Scholar" and "Independent Academic".
Christopher NOCK
I have seen independent researchers giving their permanent home address.
There are some strange people out there, even on RG! I've come across three so far. I wouldn't want any of them having easy access to my home address! Rarely do I reject a suggestion from Subir, but this time....?
NOCK
It will be great if affiliation may also be replaced alternatively by some unique ID such as orchid id so that any researcher may continue his/her research irrespective of affiliation.
A researcher can continue the research work without any institutional affiliation as 'independent researcher' and also publish the research findings. The researcher can use his/her personal postal and e-mail addresses in the publications. In case of research paper, the funding sources, institute/place where the experimental work conducted, have to be mentioned clearly in the acknowledgement section. In case of theoretical work or review paper these questions will not arise.
Have a look on the following articles regarding the flexibility, freedom and scope of an independent researcher:
Article Flexible working: Solo scientist
Independent research offers freedom and opportunities
https://www.nature.com/articles/465031b
In forums like Xing, LinkedIn, Academia, Researchgate, and whatnot there is sometimes being asked the name of an institution and not always given the option of presenting oneself as "Indpendent Researcher". Also if in a situation where one has either a contract with a lesser known institution or with two institutions, affiliation proofs difficult.
As for sites like Xing and LinkedIn, one usually lists all institutions including the period of time of afffiliation. The latest will be listed prominently, but the profile clearly states the when and where of affiliation, so I do not see a problem with that. Providing clear information about affiliation is key in my opinion.
As for the upload of reserach-papers, presentations and essays: naturally one should not give the impression of having produced the named text as an affiliate of an institution, when one does not work for it (any more). Anyhow, wouldn't one usually present a said research properly as part of project XY that has been carried out at this or that institution? If it had been carried out independently one would not add that note. If one was an independent researcher, but had been working for an institution and a certain paper is being based on research carried out at the time of affiliation, but the said essay has been produced after that affiliation, one would still point to the research undertaken. One would inform the audience about a certain project at a certain institution that one was involved with in a said period of time. If the essay had been taken from a research carried out without being affiliated to a research institute but has been supported or financed by a foundation or other public funding, one would be expected to inform the reader about who supported and/or financed the research.
In my opinion it comes down to providing the reader all information about whether an essay had been based on a certain research, was part of it, where that research was being based, whether it had been carried out as affiliate of a certain institution or whether it had been supported or financed by third parties. If all those information are being provided and one avoids giving a false impression, I do not see any problem in publishing independently.
If one was giving a false impression and a certain publication would be associated with a certain institution even though there was no affiliation, one might actually run into trouble and there have been lawsuits started for lesser reasons. Having said that, even whilst being affiliated with a certain institution, one might run into trouble publishing something whose content might not go down well with your employer, but that is a different topic.
Hi M. Jawad Sajid
In the case that you indicate when you investigate with your own resources, you can indicate that you are an independent researcher. There is no ethical problem as long as the research meets the parameters of academic reliability, appropriate methodologies and visibility so that peers can review the development and results of research.
I agreed with Christopher Nock and Avishag Gordon
I totally agree with Dr. Avishag Gordon. A researcher who is not currently associated with any research institution, university, or college could be referred to as an independent researcher.
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