Take Action

Home | Faculty & Research Overview | Research

Research Details

Scooped! Estimating Rewards for Priority in Science

Abstract

The scientific community assigns credit or “priority” to individuals who publish an important discovery first. We examine the impact of losing a priority race (colloquially known as getting “scooped”) on subsequent publication and career outcomes. To do so, we take advantage of data from structural biology where the nature of the scientific process together with the Protein Data Bank — a repository of standardized research discoveries — enables us to identify priority races and their outcomes. We find that race winners receive more attention than losers, but that these contests are not winner-take-all. Scooped teams are 2.5 percent less likely to publish, are 18 percent less likely to appear in a top-10 journal, and receive 20 percent fewer citations. Getting scooped has only modest effects on academic careers. Finally, we document empirical evidence suggesting that the priority reward system reinforces inequality of attention in science.

Type

Working Paper

Author(s)

Ryan Hill, Carolyn Stein

Date Published

2021

Citations

Hill, Ryan, and Carolyn Stein. 2021. Scooped! Estimating Rewards for Priority in Science.

LINK
KELLOGG INSIGHT

Explore leading research and ideas

Find articles, podcast episodes, and videos that spark ideas in lifelong learners, and inspire those looking to advance in their careers.
learn more

COURSE CATALOG

Review Courses & Schedules

Access information about specific courses and their schedules by viewing the interactive course scheduler tool.
LEARN MORE

DEGREE PROGRAMS

Discover the path to your goals

Whether you choose our Full-Time, Part-Time or Executive MBA program, you’ll enjoy the same unparalleled education, exceptional faculty and distinctive culture.
learn more