Title |
The Perverse Effects of Competition on Scientists’ Work and Relationships
|
---|---|
Published in |
Science and Engineering Ethics, November 2007
|
DOI | 10.1007/s11948-007-9042-5 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Melissa S. Anderson, Emily A. Ronning, Raymond De Vries, Brian C. Martinson |
Abstract |
Competition among scientists for funding, positions and prestige, among other things, is often seen as a salutary driving force in U.S. science. Its effects on scientists, their work and their relationships are seldom considered. Focus-group discussions with 51 mid- and early-career scientists, on which this study is based, reveal a dark side of competition in science. According to these scientists, competition contributes to strategic game-playing in science, a decline in free and open sharing of information and methods, sabotage of others' ability to use one's work, interference with peer-review processes, deformation of relationships, and careless or questionable research conduct. When competition is pervasive, such effects may jeopardize the progress, efficiency and integrity of science. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Netherlands | 14 | 9% |
United States | 13 | 8% |
United Kingdom | 12 | 8% |
Germany | 6 | 4% |
Canada | 5 | 3% |
Sweden | 5 | 3% |
France | 5 | 3% |
Australia | 4 | 3% |
Japan | 4 | 3% |
Other | 27 | 17% |
Unknown | 65 | 41% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 84 | 53% |
Scientists | 63 | 39% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 10 | 6% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 3 | 2% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 8 | 2% |
Spain | 4 | 1% |
Germany | 3 | <1% |
Ireland | 2 | <1% |
Netherlands | 2 | <1% |
France | 2 | <1% |
South Africa | 2 | <1% |
Finland | 1 | <1% |
United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
Other | 5 | 1% |
Unknown | 313 | 91% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 76 | 22% |
Researcher | 59 | 17% |
Student > Master | 41 | 12% |
Other | 27 | 8% |
Student > Bachelor | 25 | 7% |
Other | 72 | 21% |
Unknown | 43 | 13% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Social Sciences | 62 | 18% |
Psychology | 45 | 13% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 44 | 13% |
Computer Science | 18 | 5% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 16 | 5% |
Other | 101 | 29% |
Unknown | 57 | 17% |