Cumulative advantage and the incentive to commit fraud in science

Heesen, Remco ORCID: 0000-0003-3823-944X (2024) Cumulative advantage and the incentive to commit fraud in science. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, 75 (3). 561 - 586. ISSN 0007-0882

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Abstract

This article investigates how the credit incentive to engage in questionable research practices (up to and including fraud) interacts with cumulative advantage, the process whereby high-status academics more easily increase their status than low-status academics. I use a mathematical model to highlight two dynamics that have not yet received much attention. First, because of cumulative advantage, questionable research practices may pay off over the course of an academic career even if they are not attractive at the level of individual publications. Second, because of the role of bottleneck moments in academic careers, questionable research practices may be selected for even if they do not provide a benefit in expectation. I also observe that within the model, the most successful academics are the most likely to have benefited from fraud.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/bjps/current
Additional Information:	© The British Society for the Philosophy of Science.
Divisions:	Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
Date Deposited:	02 Aug 2024 08:57
Last Modified:	18 Sep 2024 11:21
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/122845

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