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Hosseini M, Senabre Hidalgo E, Horbach SPJM, Güttinger S, Penders B. Messing with Merton: The intersection between open science practices and Mertonian values. Account Res 2024; 31:428-455. [PMID: 36303330 PMCID: PMC10163171 DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2022.2141625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Although adherence to Mertonian values of science (i.e., communism, universalism, organized skepticism, disinterestedness) is desired and promoted in academia, such adherence can cause friction with the normative structures and practices of Open Science. Mertonian values and Open Science practices aim to improve the conduct and communication of research and are promoted by institutional actors. However, Mertonian values remain mostly idealistic and contextualized in local and disciplinary cultures and Open Science practices rely heavily on third-party resources and technology that are not equally accessible to all parties. Furthermore, although still popular, Mertonian values were developed in a different institutional and political context. In this article, we argue that new normative structures for science need to look beyond nostalgia and consider aspirations and outcomes of Open Science practices. To contribute to such a vision, we explore the intersection of several Open Science practices with Mertonian values to flesh out challenges involved in upholding these values. We demonstrate that this intersection becomes complicated when the interests of numerous groups collide and contrast. Acknowledging and exploring such tensions informs our understanding of researchers' behavior and supports efforts that seek to improve researchers' interactions with other normative structures such as research ethics and integrity frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Hosseini
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Serge P J M Horbach
- Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Stephan Güttinger
- Department of Sociology, Philosophy and Anthropology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Bart Penders
- Department of Health, Ethics & Society, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Limas JC, Corcoran LC, Baker AN, Cartaya AE, Ayres ZJ. The Impact of Research Culture on Mental Health & Diversity in STEM. Chemistry 2022; 28:e202102957. [PMID: 35075707 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202102957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The onset of COVID-19, coupled with the finer lens placed on systemic racial disparities within our society, has resulted in increased discussions around mental health. Despite this, mental health struggles in research are still often viewed as individual weaknesses and not the result of a larger dysfunctional research culture. Mental health interventions in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) academic community often focus on what individuals can do to improve their mental health instead of focusing on improving the research environment. In this paper, we present four aspects of research that may heavily impact mental health based on our experiences as research scientists: bullying and harassment; precarity of contracts; diversity, inclusion, and accessibility; and the competitive research landscape. Based on these aspects, we propose systemic changes that institutions must adopt to ensure their research culture is supportive and allows everyone to thrive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanita C Limas
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Ana E Cartaya
- Department of Surgery, Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery, Department of Pharmacology, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Köster M, Moors A, De Houwer J, Ross-Hellauer T, Van Nieuwerburgh I, Verbruggen F. Behavioral Reluctance in Adopting Open Access Publishing: Insights From a Goal-Directed Perspective. Front Psychol 2021; 12:649915. [PMID: 33897558 PMCID: PMC8059406 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.649915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite growing awareness of the benefits of large-scale open access publishing, individual researchers seem reluctant to adopt this behavior, thereby slowing down the evolution toward a new scientific culture. We outline and apply a goal-directed framework of behavior causation to shed light on this type of behavioral reluctance and to organize and suggest possible intervention strategies. The framework explains behavior as the result of a cycle of events starting with the detection of a discrepancy between a goal and a status quo and the selection of behavior to reduce this discrepancy. We list various factors that may hinder this cycle and thus contribute to behavioral reluctance. After that, we highlight potential remedies to address each of the identified barriers. We thereby hope to point out new ways to think about behavioral reluctances in general, and in relation to open access publishing in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Köster
- Research Group of Quantitative Psychology and Individual Differences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Center for Social and Cultural Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Agnes Moors
- Research Group of Quantitative Psychology and Individual Differences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Center for Social and Cultural Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan De Houwer
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tony Ross-Hellauer
- Open and Reproducible Research Group, Graz University of Technology and Know-Center GmbH, Graz, Austria
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Bray D, von Storch H. The Normative Orientations of Climate Scientists. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2017; 23:1351-1367. [PMID: 25381220 PMCID: PMC5636871 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-014-9605-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In 1942 Robert K. Merton tried to demonstrate the structure of the normative system of science by specifying the norms that characterized it. The norms were assigned the abbreviation CUDOs: Communism, Universalism, Disinterestedness, and Organized skepticism. Using the results of an on-line survey of climate scientists concerning the norms of science, this paper explores the climate scientists' subscription to these norms. The data suggests that while Merton's CUDOs remain the overall guiding moral principles, they are not fully endorsed or present in the conduct of climate scientists: there is a tendency to withhold results until publication, there is the intention of maintaining property rights, there is external influence defining research and the tendency to assign the significance of authored work according to the status of the author rather than content of the paper. These are contrary to the norms of science as proposed by Robert K. Merton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Bray
- Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthact, Institute for Coastal Research, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Hans von Storch
- Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthact, Institute for Coastal Research, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
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Abstract
Responsible conduct of research (RCR) education requirements, resources, and research have proliferated over the past twenty years, but evidence and experience highlight shortcomings in many domains: goals, audience, content, teaching tools, use of the Internet for instruction, instructors, allocation of responsibility for education, education requirements, and sources of funding. Revised approaches and suggested roles and responsibilities are proposed to meet these challenges. The unifying theme for these recommendations is to shift the focus from RCR education to RCR culture building.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kalichman
- a Research Ethics Program, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla , California , USA
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Anderson MS, Martinson BC, De Vries R. Normative dissonance in science: results from a national survey of u.s. Scientists. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 2012; 2:3-14. [PMID: 19385804 DOI: 10.1525/jer.2007.2.4.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
NORMS OF BEHAVIOR IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH represent ideals to which most scientists subscribe. Our analysis of the extent of dissonance between these widely espoused ideals and scientists' perceptions of their own and others' behavior is based on survey responses from 3,247 mid- and early-career scientists who had research funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. We found substantial normative dissonance, particularly between espoused ideals and respondents' perceptions of other scientists' typical behavior. Also, respondents on average saw other scientists' behavior as more counternormative than normative. Scientists' views of their fields as cooperative or competitive were associated with their normative perspectives, with competitive fields showing more counternormative behavior. The high levels of normative dissonance documented here represent a persistent source of stress in science.
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House MC, Seeman JI. Credit and authorship practices: educational and environmental influences. Account Res 2011; 17:223-56. [PMID: 20924807 DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2010.512857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
A survey on credit issues of academic chemists in U.S. Ph.D.-granting institutions was conducted. The respondents rated 15 criteria for authorship of scientific publications; core intellectual contributions received the highest ratings although making a single suggestion that was essential to the successful completion of the project was rated very low. Acquisition of data was also rated highly. The respondents rated eight potential influences on their own "policy" toward giving credit; doing what "seems to be the right thing" was the highest rated influence followed by graduate educational experiences; professional society or other responsible conduct of research (RCR) institutional policies were rated, by far, the lowest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C House
- Giant Steps Research, Gainesville, Florida 32606, USA.
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Anderson MS, Ronning EA, Devries R, Martinson BC. Extending the Mertonian Norms: Scientists' Subscription to Norms of Research. THE JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION 2010; 81:366-393. [PMID: 21132074 PMCID: PMC2995462 DOI: 10.1353/jhe.0.0095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
This analysis, based on focus groups and a national survey, assesses scientists' subscription to the Mertonian norms of science and associated counternorms. It also supports extension of these norms to governance (as opposed to administration), as a norm of decision-making, and quality (as opposed to quantity), as a evaluative norm.
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Abstract
Most of the publicized work on scientific ethics concentrates on establishing professional norms and avoiding misconduct. The successful communication of science is the responsibility of all involved in the process. In one study, the increased incidence of autism and other social developmental disorders in males was investigated by examining individuals with Turner's syndrome (XO females). In the national newspaper this became "Genetic X-factor explains why boys will always be boys". The steps by which a study on developmental disorders, published in a highly prestigious journal, was transformed into an article in the science section which 'explained' the socially expected gender-based behavior of genetically normal children are fascinating and, unfortunately far too typical. The scientists wrote an excellent article that has just one sentence at the end that hesitantly suggests that the findings might, with further study, have some relevance to understanding normal behavior. The general interest article in the front of the journal gave a good account of the research, but suggested more strongly that there could be an in-built biological dimorphism in social cognition. This was misrepresented in the press as proof of gender differences that "undermines the trend towards sexual equality", and both illustrates cultural bias and provides fodder for feminist critiques of science. The study has been made to appear to be biased in favor of justifying the social structure of society, and yet it was the translation from the scientific study to national news that produced this transformation to biased genetic determinism. It is poor communication of the actual science, coupled with a lack of skepticism on the part of the public, that contributes to such a misapplication of science. Scientists should resist the urge to generalize their results to make them more compelling. The science community should not allow misconstructions of scientific facts to go unchallenged. Journalists, for both the scientific publication and the newspaper, should resist the inclination to embellish the finding with social significance that is not present. For their part, readers must be doubly skeptical of any finding that appears to underwrite any current social hierarchy. We are all responsible for a communication and interpretation of science that is as accurate and socially responsible as possible.
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