Toxic Professor in Higher Education: A Meta-Synthesis Approach

The main purpose of this research was to identify the components of the Professor Toxic in higher education, which was carried out with the approach of research synthesis and qualitative meta-synthesis method using the seven-step method of Sandelowski and Barroso. By searching the English databases of Scopus, Emerald, ProQuest, Science Direct, Springer, and Eric, and Persian databases including the National Publications Database and Jihad Universities Scientific Information Database, 141 related studies were extracted between 2000 and 2022. After screening the studies and using the "CASP" methodology, 62 studies remained, and their results combined. This resulted in the extraction of 32 effective factors in defining teacher toxicity and classification of these components into 4 main categories: negative characteristics and behaviors, causes and factors of toxicity, strategies of toxic teachers, and consequences of toxicity. Therefore, by identifying the toxic components of the professor in higher education, the current research provides a basis for making future decisions by those involved in the higher education system.