Publishing in co-authorship: A comparison of the motivations between more and less prolific Management scholars in Brazil

In this study, we investigate what more and less prolific scholars – that publish more or less scientific articles – search for in their co-authorship ties. Specifically, we seek to understand if and how there are differences in the motivations presiding to co-authorship between more and less prolific researchers. Research on co-authorship is of interest to the academia, since the majority of the articles are published in co-authorship and co-authorships may have an important impact in the scholars’ career. We have collected survey data with 171 Brazilian management faculty, about their motivations, pressures, and choices for co-authorship. We identify significant differences on the perceived pressures to publish, source of pressure, motivations to work in co-authorship and the contributions warranting co-authorship across more and less prolific researchers. We contribute to the debate on the development of scholars and the formation of co-authorship ties, suggesting that co-authorship may be strategically managed and evolving along the professional path of the researchers, and leaving the possibility that scholars’ networks of co-authorship evolve strategically as they seek different goals.