Rao Sandy, Jardine Rae, Suthakaran Abitha, Satam Laetitia, Todorova Antoaneta A, Tumaneng Ysabelle, Quickstad Julien
Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Mental Health Accessibility and Policy Solutions Lab, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Res Involv Engagem. 2024 Dec 20;10(1):133. doi: 10.1186/s40900-024-00668-x.
This commentary article critically assesses the inclusion and recognition of young adults with lived and living experiences (YALLE) in academic publishing. Stemming from our involvement in a health research study, this analysis interrogates the disparity between the stated importance of YALLE contributions in health research and their actual recognition, specifically in academic publications, which serve as the principal "currency" in research. This tokenism limits the potential for their unique insights to substantially enrich the discourse and dissemination of knowledge. Set against a backdrop of systemic biases and structural barriers, this discussion underscores the persistent minoritization of YALLE, despite increasing nominal recognition within academic and health research communities.
The commentary begins by placing the engagement of young adults in health research within its current context, showing that this inclusion often remains superficial, serving more as a symbolic gesture toward inclusivity rather than fostering genuine participatory research. It critiques the implicit biases within institutional frameworks that continue to shape research culture detrimentally, thus stifling the transformative potential of research led and partnered by young adults. The core of the narrative addresses the complex challenges faced by YALLE, including discrimination, underrecognition, and inadequate participatory roles in research processes. These issues are magnified by the prevalent "publish or perish" culture in academia, which prioritizes the quantity of scholarly output over the quality and inclusivity of research contributions.
The commentary advocates for a crucial shift in academic publishing to genuinely appreciate and integrate the contributions of young adults. We call for a transition from a "publish or perish" model to a "publish with purpose" approach, which necessitates rethinking what is considered valuable knowledge and who is acknowledged as its creators. This shift aims to cultivate an academic culture where knowledge is treated as a communal resource, and publications are used as tools to advance societal understanding and progress.
这篇评论文章批判性地评估了有生活经历的年轻人（YALLE）在学术出版中的纳入和认可情况。基于我们参与的一项健康研究，该分析审视了YALLE在健康研究中的贡献的既定重要性与其实际认可之间的差距，特别是在学术出版物中，学术出版物是研究的主要“货币”。这种表面文章限制了他们独特见解对丰富知识话语和传播的巨大潜力。在系统性偏见和结构性障碍的背景下，尽管在学术和健康研究界的名义认可有所增加，但本讨论强调了YALLE持续被边缘化的情况。
评论首先将年轻人参与健康研究置于当前背景下，表明这种纳入往往仍然是表面的，更多地是作为一种对包容性的象征性姿态，而不是促进真正的参与性研究。它批评了机构框架内的隐性偏见，这些偏见继续对研究文化产生不利影响，从而扼杀了由年轻人主导和合作的研究的变革潜力。叙述的核心涉及YALLE面临的复杂挑战。，包括歧视、未得到充分认可以及在研究过程中参与角色不足。学术界普遍存在的“不发表就出局”文化加剧了这些问题，这种文化将学术产出的数量置于研究贡献的质量和包容性之上。
评论主张学术出版进行关键转变，以真正欣赏并整合年轻人的贡献。我们呼吁从“不发表就出局”模式转变为“有目的发表”方法，这需要重新思考什么被视为有价值的知识以及谁被认可为其创造者。这一转变旨在培育一种学术文化，在这种文化中，知识被视为公共资源，出版物被用作促进社会理解和进步的工具。
