Academic research networks and the role of literacy and network brokers in the publication of articles in Institute of Science Index-indexed journals: A case study of University Professors in English as a foreign language context

The small number of Institute of Science Index (ISI)-indexed articles published by some Iranian professors call for a solution. Therefore, this study focuses on local and transnational academic research networks of four university professors who are successful in publishing their articles in ISI-indexed journals. Through semi-structured interviews, this research describes professors’ academic research networks and identifies “literacy brokers,” “network brokers” and their role in the process of article publication. The study indicates that literacy brokers were mostly colleagues, PhD supervisors and advisors, applied linguistic professors and reviewers. Network brokers were fewer in number and were found to be PhD advisors and an editor of a journal. Implications for novice researchers are also discussed.