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Analysis of scientific productivity using maximum entropy principle and fluctuation-dissipation theorem |
Piotr Fronczak , Agata Fronczak , Janusz A. Hołyst |
Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Physics and Cent.of Exc.for Complex Systems Research, Koszykowa 75, Warszawa 00-662, Poland |
Abstract |
Using data retrieved from the INSPEC database we have quantitatively discussed a few syndromes of the publish-or-perish phenomenon, including the continuous growth of the rate of scientific productivity, and the continuously decreasing percentage of those scientists who stay in science for a long time. Making use of the maximum entropy principle and fluctuation-dissipation theorem, we have shown that the observed fat-tailed distributions of the total number of papers x authored by scientists may result from the density-of-states function g(x; τ) underlying the scientific community. Although different generations of scientists are characterized by different productivity patterns, the function g(x; τ) is inherent to researchers of a given seniority τ, whereas the publish-or-perish phenomenon is caused only by an external field θ influencing researchers. |
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Presentation: Oral at International Conference on Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents 2008, by Janusz A. HołystSee On-line Journal of International Conference on Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents 2008 Submitted: 2008-05-21 17:10 Revised: 2009-06-07 00:48 |