The reward system of science

Journal article

At the end of the 1950s, Robert K. Merton formalized the idea of a reward system of science (Merton, 1957; 1973). Within the Mertonian framework, the scientific ethos is mainly comprised of four institutional norms: universalism, communism, disinterestedness, and organized scepticism. Its basic precepts are derived from the scientific institution’s main objective, the “extension of certified knowledge” (1973, p. 270). According to Merton, “the institution of science has developed an elaborate system for allocating rewards to those who variously live up to its norms” (1957, p. 642) as they strive to participate in this institutional objective. The notion of recognition can be broadly defined as “the giving of symbolic and material rewards” (Merton, 1973, p. 429) by scientific peers; it is attributed to researchers who contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge through their original work. Recognition therefore lies at the foundation of this reward system and constitutes, in the Mertonian view, both a driving force behind researchers’ actions and the pillar upon which scientific careers are—or at least can be—built.

Authors: Paul-Hus, A; Desrochers, N; de Rijcke, S; Rushforth, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Reviewed (other)
• Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited
• Journal: Aslib Journal of Information Management
• Volume: 69
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 478-485
• Publication date: 2017-10-01
• Acceptance date: 2016-08-09
• DOI: 10.1108/AJIM-07-2017-0168
• EISSN: 2050-3814
• ISSN: 2050-3806
• Keywords: Editorial; Journal