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Professors beware: Perfectionism hurts research output

Professors who are perfectionists are less likely to produce and publish research, a new study concludes. “The more perfectionistic the professor, the less productive they are,” says a Dalhousie University psychology professor, Simon Sherry, in an article published by University Affairs in January. Dr. Sherry says he and his colleagues used an online survey to…

Professors who are perfectionists are less likely to produce and publish research, a new study concludes.

“The more perfectionistic the professor, the less productive they are,” says a Dalhousie University psychology professor, Simon Sherry, in an article published by University Affairs in January. Dr. Sherry says he and his colleagues used an online survey to examine the impact of perfectionism on professors. He described perfectionism as “the common cold of academia.”

The study was published in the October 2010 issue of the Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science.

Professors who are perfectionists are less likely to produce and publish research, a new study concludes.

“The more perfectionistic the professor, the less productive they are,” says a Dalhousie University psychology professor, Simon Sherry, in an article published by University Affairs in January. Dr. Sherry says he and his colleagues used an online survey to examine the impact of perfectionism on professors. He described perfectionism as “the common cold of academia.”

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The study was published in the October 2010 issue of the Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science.