How have lecturers’ writing behaviours changed?

Academics Writing – an EPSRC-sponsored, two-year project at the University of Lancaster – reveals that academics’ writing behaviours have changed substantially in the last 20 years. A variety of factors are linked with the changes, including: pressures on staff to submit to the REF; staff having increased non-research workload and more diverse roles; students having an entitlement attitude about access to staff; and technological changes that increase students’ easy access to staff.

Writing has become increasingly fragmented, with staff snatching quiet time away from their office space to work undisturbed. Opportunities for writing extended pieces of writing, such as important historical monographs based on several years of research, are becoming constrained. For further detail and latest developments, catch up on the project’s blog.