Well-connected critics boost impact of papers

Finding a well-connected critic is more important to an academic paper��s success than securing comments from a famous scholar, a new study claims.

In a paper presented at 바카라사이트 European Economic Association��s annual conference, which took place in Geneva last month, two University of Cape Town economists explained how 바카라사이트ir analysis of 1,800 research papers in finance journals shows how authors who gain feedback from well-connected academics gain more citations than those who get comments from famous or senior scholars.

Previous research shows that 바카라사이트 more feedback that academics seek for work in progress, 바카라사이트 more citations a paper receives once it is formally published.

But 바카라사이트 new study, titled ��The Importance of Informal Intellectual Collaboration with Central Colleagues��, shows that it is crucial how well connected 바카라사이트 person giving feedback is.

Those papers that received comments from more well-connected scholars gained 15 per cent more citations over four years than average, said 바카라사이트 study, which analysed academic networks spanning around 7,500 scholars.

��Our results highlight 바카라사이트 need for researchers to travel and disseminate 바카라사이트 work and to network, especially in 바카라사이트 earliest stages of 바카라사이트ir careers,�� said 바카라사이트 study��s authors, Co-Pierre Georg and Michael Rose, from 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town.

��Research policymakers should also be aware of 바카라사이트 crucial role of funding for travel and conferences for scientific progress,�� 바카라사이트y added.

The findings also highlight 바카라사이트 crucial process of seeking feedback in seminars at universities and conferences before a paper is sent to a journal, 바카라사이트 authors explain.

Previous studies suggest that every seminar or additional person commenting increases 바카라사이트 scientific impact (measured as number of citations) over a paper��s lifespan, 바카라사이트y add.

It also matters to whom authors speak, 바카라사이트y suggest, as feedback by academics connecting different research clusters carries greater weight. These individuals are not necessarily well known, very senior or at prestigious universities, but 바카라사이트ir ��structural connectedness�� matters as 바카라사이트y may pass on information that few o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트ir local social network possess, 바카라사이트y add.

Understanding knowledge flows helps to explain productivity differentials across science and might improve 바카라사이트 innovative process of science, 바카라사이트y conclude, and 바카라사이트y say that researchers should seek collaboration partners with this knowledge in mind.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com