When Academia Meets Practice: How Institutional Forces Shape Practice-Based Research Dissemination Through Articles at Flemish Universities of Applied Sciences

Abstract Purpose This empirical case study employs institutional theory to analyze the strategic publication behavior of individuals conducting practice-based research (PBR) at Flemish universities of applied sciences (UASs). It examines how competing institutional logics and pressures within the higher education field shape dissemination practices. Design/methodology/approach To supplement bibliometric studies, a dataset of articles (2014–2024) from selected Flemish UASs was compiled from institutional repositories and supplementary sources. The study traces how article types, language, and authorship align with different institutional demands. Findings Analyses reveal a dual dissemination pattern shaped by isomorphic pressures. State reporting systems’ coercive pressures and mimetic pulls toward academic legitimacy drive substantial output in English-language, peer-reviewed journals. Simultaneously, professional fields’ normative pressures sustain a parallel, diverse circuit of Dutch-language, practice-oriented outputs (e.g., magazines, blogs). UASs and researchers navigate these logics strategically, demonstrating institutional entrepreneurship through self-publishing platforms and cross-channel dissemination. Research limitations The study’s focus on articles underrepresents the full spectrum of practice-based research dissemination. Furthermore, given institutional repositories’ under-registration, the dataset may not capture all relevant publications, reflecting the very registration challenges the study examines. As a case study of Flemish UASs, generalizability to other contexts requires caution. Practical implications Findings highlight a systemic misalignment between PBR dissemination and academic metadata standards. They underscore the need for research information systems and evaluation frameworks that recognize plural institutional logics to adequately valorize the impact of practice-based research. Originality/value This study provides a novel institutionalist perspective on PBR dissemination practices, framing them as strategic responses to a complex organizational field. It advances understanding of how competing logics manifest in knowledge dissemination and identifies institutional work undertaken to sustain and legitimize a practice-based mission.