Why publish in English versus Spanish?: Towards a framework for the study of researchers' motivations

Abstract

This paper proposes a framework for the comparative study of researchers' motivations for publishing either in English as an additional language or their first language. This framework seeks to present a view of motivation as dynamic, multidimensional, and multilevel. Empirical support is provided through the results of an on-line large-scale survey carried out among Spanish scholars. Our aim was to investigate which factors motivate them to publish their results in academic journals in either English or Spanish, as well as the extent to which these motivations are shaped by individual characteristics of researchers, particularly gender, seniority and publication experience. Results show an instrumental use of publication in English and fragmented social and ideological motivations for the use of Spanish.