1min snip

The Studies Show cover image

Episode 49: Scientific publishing

The Studies Show

NOTE

Measures Mislead When They Become Targets

The correlation between the number of publications and the quality of scientific work is misleading. Focusing on the quantity of papers published can distort the true measure of scientific merit, leading to a culture where researchers are encouraged to publish prolifically rather than engage in meaningful scientific inquiry. This dynamic mirrors trends in educational systems where schools prioritize boosting scores around specific thresholds, subsequently neglecting those outside of target boundaries. This phenomenon illustrates Goodhart's Law, which states that once a measure becomes a target, it loses its effectiveness as a valid measure. This principle applies widely in science, affecting various metrics such as publication counts, citation rates, journal impact factors, and individual h-index scores.

00:00

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode