Researcher’s independence as a value and practice in scientific work

The paper uses two repeat studies by Russian scientists (from 2022 and 2024) as examples to examine the contents and features manifesting value-related, organizational and communication aspects of independent research. Considering the study subject, it was important to pinpoint the relationship between the importance of independent research and its actual existence, focus of scientists on independent and team work, absence of regular professional peer communication and their expansion. The function of researcher independence was determined as its correlation with research productivity parameters. Groups of respondents with the greatest potential to distinguish between answers were set up for each aspect of independence. As we found out, differences between diverse ratios of research value and an opportunity for independence largely correlate with employment type, i. e. if scientists work at universities or RAS institutes. The prevailing factor that determines the preference for independent or team research is the study area: nature sciences, exact sciences, engineering or social studies and humanities. The major differentiating factor when it comes to regular contacts with other Russian researchers is academic credentials (candidates vs. doctors of sciences). We have demonstrated that out of the three aspects of researcher independence we have studied, only one (the focus on independent or team research) points to empirical parameters inherent to the concept, i. e. traits characterizing more responsible, rigorous and critical approach and positions to assessing various real or theoretical scenarios. In general, our analysis did not reveal enough to make us confidently say that independence for Russian researchers is a holistic concept that organically encompasses all its aspects, as well, as that independence in itself is a driver of research productivity.