TY - JOUR
T1 - The perverse effects of competition on scientists' work and relationships
AU - Anderson, Melissa S.
AU - Ronning, Emily A.
AU - De Vries, Raymond
AU - Martinson, Brian C.
PY - 2007/12
Y1 - 2007/12
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Competition
KW - Ethics in science
KW - Misconduct
KW - Research integrity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=36948999396&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=36948999396&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11948-007-9042-5
DO - 10.1007/s11948-007-9042-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 18030595
AN - SCOPUS:36948999396
VL - 13
SP - 437
EP - 461
JO - Science and Engineering Ethics
JF - Science and Engineering Ethics
SN - 1353-3452
IS - 4
ER -