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Impact-oriented science policies and scientific publication practices: The case of life sciences in Japan

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  • Shibayama, Sotaro
  • Baba, Yasunori

Abstract

The modern science system relies on intense evaluation of scientific publication, in which scientific impact is highly emphasized, but its contribution to the progress of science has been controversial. Focusing on two aspects of the science system, resource allocation and academic career design, this study explores whether these policies, presumably aiming at high-impact research, actually achieve the goal. Drawing on in-depth interviews and econometric analyses of Japanese biology professors, this study first shows that merit-based resource allocation can result in biased resource allocation, and that excessive resource concentration can facilitate low-impact publications. Second, results show that a lack of mobility, in particular inbreeding, increases low-impact publications, while international mobility decreases it. The latter effect is found to be mediated by fewer publications in low-impact journals, and thus, internationally mobile academics seem to decide the publication destination more strategically.

Suggested Citation

  • Shibayama, Sotaro & Baba, Yasunori, 2015. "Impact-oriented science policies and scientific publication practices: The case of life sciences in Japan," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(4), pages 936-950.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:44:y:2015:i:4:p:936-950
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2015.01.012
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    6. Ghabban, Fahad & Selamat, Ali & Ibrahim, Roliana, 2018. "New model for encouraging academic staff in Saudi universities to use IT for knowledge sharing to improve scholarly publication performance," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 92-99.
    7. Matthew L. Wallace & Ismael Rafols, 2016. "Shaping the Agenda of a Grand Challenge: Institutional Mediation of Priorities in Avian Influenza Research," SPRU Working Paper Series 2016-02, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    8. Jesús de Frutos-Belizón & Fernando Martín-Alcázar & Gonzalo Sánchez-Gardey, 2021. "The research–practice gap in the field of HRM: a qualitative study from the academic side of the gap," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 1465-1515, August.
    9. ONISHI Koichiro & OWAN Hideo, 2020. "Heterogenous Impacts of National Research Grants on Academic Productivity," Discussion papers 20052, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    10. Francoise Contreras & Utz Dornberger, 2022. "Sustainable Entrepreneurship as a Field of Knowledge: Analyzing the Global South," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-28, December.
    11. Tošić, Aleksandar & Vičič, Jernej, 2021. "Use of Benford's law on academic publishing networks," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 15(3).
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    13. Francisco González-Sala & Julia Osca-Lluch & Julia Haba-Osca, 2019. "Are journal and author self-citations a visibility strategy?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 119(3), pages 1345-1364, June.
    14. Tran, Trung & Linh, Hoang Khanh & La, Viet-Phuong & Ho, Manh-Toan & Vuong, Quan-Hoang, 2020. "Scrambling for higher metrics in the Journal Impact Factor bubble period: a real-world problem in science management and its implications," OSF Preprints dmsp9, Center for Open Science.
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