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Shifting the Level of Selection in Science.
Leo Tiokhin1,2, Karthik Panchanathan3, Paul E Smaldino4,5
1Human Technology Interaction Group, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands.
Summary
Recognizing scientists by individual achievements conflicts with scientific progress. Shifting focus to group-level selection can better align individual incentives with collective scientific goals, fostering collaboration and diverse contributions.
Area of Science:
- Science and Technology Policy
- Sociology of Science
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Current scientific recognition systems prioritize individual accomplishments.
- This focus creates a misalignment between individual career advancement and the collective good of scientific progress.
- This misalignment can hinder collaboration and the recognition of diverse scientific contributions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how the theory of multilevel selection can be applied to scientific incentive structures.
- To propose modifications to reward systems that better align individual and collective interests in science.
- To address issues such as excessive competition and the undervaluation of diverse contributions in contemporary science.
Main Methods:
- Application of multilevel selection theory to analyze scientific incentive structures.
- Drawing parallels with successful applications of shifting selection levels in other fields (e.g., animal husbandry, sports, organizations).
- Conceptual analysis of how shifting the level of selection can impact scientific practices and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Multilevel selection theory offers tools to modify scientific incentives.
- Shifting the level of selection from individuals to groups can better account for indirect effects and collective benefits.
- This shift has the potential to reduce detrimental individual competition and promote specialization and team science.
Conclusions:
- Aligning individual and collective interests through modified incentive structures is crucial for scientific advancement.
- Shifting the level of selection offers a promising framework for improving scientific collaboration and recognizing diverse contributions.
- Further research and development are needed to overcome the practical difficulties of implementing such shifts in science.
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