Barter system for researchers: A proposal

This proposal arose from the author's difficulty in finding colleagues with similar research interests. The proposal took shape from the collective thoughts of many who have expressed dissatisfaction with the traditional means of information exchange among researchers. At its most concrete level, the barter system for researchers consists of two parts: a list linking various research areas with researchers willing to entertain collegial inquiries thereto, and a clerk to note the number of hours that participants give and receive in the informational exchange. The essence of the system is hardly more than these parts; thus, much of the discussion focuses on applications and refinements. In particular, adaptation to the varying needs of researchers receives much attention. For example, participation of researchers can range from informal, unrecorded exchanges to formal, monetary transactions—depending always on the mutual agreement of prospective inquirers and responders. As a proposal, the paper's methods were limited to ad hoc argumentation and related commentaries. Therefore, results and conclusions were substantively nonempirical and speculative.