Work

Epistemic Diversity and Editor Decisions: A Statistical Matthew Effect

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: This paper offers a new angle on the common idea that the process of science does not support epistemic diversity. Under minimal assumptions on the nature of journal editing we prove that editorial procedures, even when impartial in themselves, disadvantage less prominent research programs. This purely statistical bias in article selection further skews existing differences in the success rate and hence attractiveness of research programs, and exacerbates the reputation difference between the programs. After a discussion of the modeling assumptions, the paper ends with a number of recommendations that may help promote scientific diversity through editorial decision making.

Source: University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology)

Authors: Remco Heesen, Jan‐Willem Romeijn

Language: English

Topic: scientometrics and bibliometrics research

Subfield: Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty

Field: Decision Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Leverhulme Trust, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Isaac Newton Trust

Awards: G7010378412, Understanding Statistical Biases in Peer Review

OpenAlex ID: W2965304472

FWCI: 5.019

Cites: 19

Cited by: 37

Related to: 10