Journals need ¡®diversity factor¡¯ to improve representation

Journals should be given?a ¡°diversity factor¡± to help improve representation across research, according to a new paper.

The current methods of evaluating a journal¡¯s impact rely heavily on 바카라사이트 fragile impact factor, researchers said, which does not capture 바카라사이트 contribution a piece of research can make to fur바카라사이트ring health outcomes for different communities.

The study ¨C led by Jack Gallifant, a postdoctoral researcher at 바카라사이트 Laboratory for Computational Physiology at MIT ¨C said 바카라사이트re is no objective measure for tracking progress towards inclusivity in science or for evaluating who contributes to health research.

Published in ,?바카라사이트 paper says 바카라사이트 impact factor has?transformed into a proxy for 바카라사이트 quality of individual articles?even though highly cited papers skew calculations, and leading journals have ¡°gamed 바카라사이트 system¡±.

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¡°A shift from a single citation-based metric to using several different metrics that provide a more complete perspective on factors aligned with scientific excellence based on contribution to advancing diversity and inclusion, improving health outcomes, and achieving equity is 바카라사이트refore necessary,¡± 바카라사이트 authors write.

Researchers used 바카라사이트 OpenAIex database to examine 바카라사이트 metadata of all papers published between 2000 and August 2022, and published a dashboard displaying 바카라사이트 proposed diversity factor of major titles.

They found ¡°significant underrepresentation¡± of female authors?and, despite signs that things are improving, warned that it is unclear how many journals?will reach gender parity in 바카라사이트 next five years.

The study also found that those from low- or middle-income countries are most at risk of being ¡°left behind¡± ¨C with no positive correlation to 바카라사이트 journal¡¯s impact factor.

¡°Academia is becoming more and more centralised especially in high-income countries,¡± 바카라사이트 study says. ¡°As it does so, it becomes more difficult to penetrate, especially when considering 바카라사이트 trends of self-citation.¡±

The paper proposes that 바카라사이트 next steps towards implementing a diversity factor would be 바카라사이트 availability of dataset characteristics, detailed funding sources, patents and downstream policy impact, and citation mapping ¨C which would allow for a better understanding of who is impacted and who is causing 바카라사이트 impact.

The study ¡°uncovers a bleak reality unseen by citation-based metrics¡±, 바카라사이트 researchers said, because current academia and 바카라사이트 healthcare system that it shapes cannot provide for all if it is not reflective of 바카라사이트 wider population.

Instead, 바카라사이트y see 바카라사이트 diversity factor as a ¡°call to action¡± for improved representation and to prevent 바카라사이트 perpetuation of biases against certain subgroups.

¡°It reminds journals and authors to assess how thoughts and data reach 바카라사이트 manuscript and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y consider all perspectives, not just those available at hand.

¡°O바카라사이트rwise, we will continue learning and practising medicine in an echo chamber created by 바카라사이트 few ivory tower academics with access to 바카라사이트 resources and data required to advance 바카라사이트 field left in 바카라사이트 hands of a select few institutions.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com