Why Edit Books?In Defence of an Oft-Disparaged Academic Activity

摘要

Of all the different forms of research and writing, producing an edited book is often regarded as the least significant type of academic activity, and certainly as having the lowest priority in building an academic career. Writing chapters for edited books is viewed by many as an equally dubious endeavour. The arguments are well-rehearsed: edited books (and the chapters they contain) are not peer-reviewed, and therefore are not subject to 'academic quality control'; the editor(s) get the credit - if such there be - for a publication based on the efforts of others (the various contributors); edited books (and the chapters that have been written for them) lack the potential impact and visibility of authored books and journal articles; time spent on putting edited books together (or indeed writing chapters for such volumes) would be better directed at building up a curriculum vitae based on papers in leading, high-citation-impact journals. The message is clear, particularly within the circles of academic promotion boards, staff appointment panels and research assessment bodies (such as the British Research Excellence Framework (REF) in the UK): edited books do not count for much. It is as if they should carry a sort of 'academic health warning'.