Breach of academic values and digital deviant behaviour: The case of Sci-Hub

Giulia Rossello, Arianna Martinelli

Research output: Working paper / PreprintWorking paper

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Abstract

This paper bridges the organisational psychology and the economics of science literature to examine the role of ideology-based psychological contract breach in eliciting mild deviant behaviour in academia. We provide empirical evidence of how the deterioration of academic values related to the diffusion of the “publish or perish” paradigm sparkles copyright violations through Sci-Hub. Based on a representative sample of 2849 academics working in top institutions in 6 European countries, we find that ideology-based psychological contract breach explains Sci-Hub usage, also when controlling for other trivial motivations. The magnitude of the effect depends on contextual and demographic characteristics. Females, foreign and tenured scholars are less likely to respond with digital piracy when experiencing a contract breach of academic values. Our results contribute to prevention policy design, highlighting how policies restoring academic values might also address academic piracy.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherUNU-MERIT
Publication statusPublished - 31 Mar 2023
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

SeriesUNU-MERIT Working Papers
Number009
ISSN1871-9872

JEL classifications

  • d23 - "Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights"
  • l86 - "Information and Internet Services; Computer Software"
  • o34 - Intellectual Property Rights

Keywords

  • Sci-Hub
  • Academic Values
  • Digital Piracy
  • Deviant Behaviour
  • Psychological Contract Breach
  • Contract Breach

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