Roots: a SEED manifesto for early career research. Introducing budding perspectives
Killian O’Leary, Chloe Preece, Mona MoufahimPurpose
Early Career Researchers (ECRs) constitute the largest population of scholars within contemporary higher education, yet they face increasing pressure associated with publication expectations, academic precarity and intensifying performance cultures. This editorial argues that dedicated publication pathways for ECR-led research represent an important intervention for journals, learned societies, institutions and the wider academic community. Drawing on the development of this Special Issue, we reflect on a developmental publishing model designed to support ECRs through a rigorous yet constructive review process. In doing so, we discuss the publication journey of nine ECR-led contributions and considers the opportunities and limitations of dedicated publication incentives. We contend that ECR-focused special issues should become a more prominent feature of the marketing discipline and outline how journals and scholarly communities can better cultivate supportive, inclusive and developmental research cultures. To advance this discussion, we introduce a SEED manifesto for early career research, which calls for greater attention to Support, Empowerment, Equity and Development as guiding principles for fostering the next generation of marketing scholars.
Design/methodology/approach
This special issue presents ECR-led research projects. It emerges as part of broader ECR support initiatives offered by the Academy of Marketing.
Findings
Nine papers contribute to this special issue. They represent a diversity of qualitative market research that theorises consumption, examines sustainability, questions materiality, explores marginalisation, investigates digitalisation, adopts participatory methods, provides alternative perspectives and advances methodological innovation.
Originality/value
This special issue provokes the academy to consider how ECR research can be more readily nurtured, fostered and developed. The SEED manifesto introduces key considerations and provocations for scholars, journals, learned societies and institutions alike.