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Differences in psychologists' cognitive traits are associated with scientific divides.
Justin Sulik1, Nakwon Rim2, Elizabeth Pontikes3
1Cognition, Values and Behavior Lab, Munich Interactive Intelligence Initiative, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. justin.sulik@gmail.com.
Nature Human Behaviour
|April 17, 2025
Summary
Scientific field divisions may stem from researchers' differing cognitive traits, influencing their research choices and conclusions. These differences are observable in publication histories, suggesting some scientific divides are deeply rooted in individual researchers.
Area of Science:
- Psychological Sciences
- Cognitive Science
- Sociology of Science
Background:
- Scientific fields often exhibit distinct schools of thought.
- These divisions may be influenced by researchers' individual characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between researchers' cognitive traits and their stances on scientific questions.
- To explore whether these associations are reflected in research choices and publication patterns.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 7,973 researchers in psychological sciences.
- Analyzed links between research topics, stances on open questions, cognitive traits, and publication histories.
Main Results:
- Researchers' stances on scientific questions correlate with their research areas and cognitive traits.
- These associations are evident in publication records.
- Cognitive dispositions, such as tolerance for ambiguity, may influence scientific alignment.
Conclusions:
- Divisions within scientific fields may reflect inherent differences among researchers.
- Bridging some scientific divides might be more challenging than traditional views suggest.
- Understanding researcher cognition is key to understanding scientific field fragmentation.
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