Attention and the Art of Scientific Publishing

Abstract

Attention is the coordination device which makes modern science work the way it does. A typical characteristic of attention in the scientific world is that those who seek attention are the same people who are giving it. Another important feature within groups is the skewed distribution of attention. We discuss the effect these characteristics have on scientific institutions. An important thesis is that scientists converge in clusters of likeminded scientists. Given the character of scientific organisation and communication we expect that the digitalisation of scientific communication will not affect the basic scientific institutions as the principles upon which the Internet and open source code projects function coincide more or less with the way science functions. The channelling of attention will remain an important issue as the flood of information in the age of electronic publishing will only increase.

Keywords: economics of science, superstars, attention, publishing, intellectual property rights

JEL Classification: A1, J4, L3