Awareness Mentality and Strategic Behavior in Science

Area of Science:

• Science and Technology Studies
• Bibliometrics
• Research Evaluation

Background:

• Traditionally, scientific achievement is acknowledged via publication citations.
• There's a growing emphasis on the attention a scientist garners for their work.
• This shift signifies an increasing importance of strategic behavior in science.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the causes and backgrounds of the increasing importance of attention and strategic behavior in science.
• To identify the main drivers behind this development.
• To highlight different forms of strategic behavior and their consequences.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the role of reductionist, quantitative systems in science management and research funding.
• Examination of the impact of quantitative assessments and alternative metrics (altmetrics).
• Discussion of perception scores in databases and universities, and journal ambitions.

Main Results:

• Quantitative systems, loss of critical judgment, and technocratic dominance are key drivers.
• Alternative metrics and perception scores influence scientific evaluation.
• Journal ambitions contribute significantly to the focus on attention.

Conclusions:

• Strategic behavior in science is increasingly prevalent due to various quantitative and perceptual factors.
• The focus on attention over traditional metrics has significant consequences for scientific practice.
• Understanding these drivers is crucial for navigating modern research evaluation.