I forgot the number one reason people hate research:
Research really puts the ego on the line. The sense of self-worth of an academic, typically someone who is used to being the smartest person in the room (in any given room) is tied up with how good the research is judged to be. The idea of being judged can be almost intolerable. What if you really aren't as smart as you thought you were? What if everyone can see you're an impostor? Academia is an environment where there are a lot of smart people, so that even a smart person can end up being below average.
The judgement never ends until promotion to full professor. Even then, you can still get rejected.
I have no easy way out of the ego trap. I'll let you know when I figure this one out.
2 comments:
Hmm once again fascinating. I've got no ego involved and total confidence - not that I'll get into top journals right off, but in quality of work.
Why I "hate" research (which I don't): because in the name of it I live so far from what I like and love.
But here's a serious question: do you think people generally go into academia for teaching, or for research? For me it was research, if not I'd have gone CC or secondary, but do you think it's possible "we" "hate" research because many are genuinely more interested in teaching?
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