Working Paper Essay Version 1 This version is not peer-reviewed

Shifting Our Value System Beyond Citations for a More Equitable Future

Sarah Davies
* ,
Hollie Putnam
* ,
Tracy Ainsworth
,
Julia Baum
,
Colleen Bove
,
Sarah Crosby
,
Isabelle Côté
,
Anne Duplouy
,
Robinson Fulweiler
,
Alyssa Griffin
,
Torrance Hanley
,
Tessa Hill
,
Adriana Humanes
,
Sangeeta Mangubhai
,
Anna Metaxas
,
Laura Parker
,
Hanny Rivera
,
Nyssa Silbiger
,
Nicola Smith
,
Ana Spalding
,
Nikki Traylor-Knowles
,
Brooke Weigel
,
Rachel Wright
,
Amanda Bates
*
Version 1 : Received: 19 February 2021 / Approved: 22 February 2021 / Online: 22 February 2021 (16:17:45 CET)

How to cite: Davies, S.; Putnam, H.; Ainsworth, T.; Baum, J.; Bove, C.; Crosby, S.; Côté, I.; Duplouy, A.; Fulweiler, R.; Griffin, A.; Hanley, T.; Hill, T.; Humanes, A.; Mangubhai, S.; Metaxas, A.; Parker, L.; Rivera, H.; Silbiger, N.; Smith, N.; Spalding, A.; Traylor-Knowles, N.; Weigel, B.; Wright, R.; Bates, A. Shifting Our Value System Beyond Citations for a More Equitable Future. Preprints 2021, 2021020493 Davies, S.; Putnam, H.; Ainsworth, T.; Baum, J.; Bove, C.; Crosby, S.; Côté, I.; Duplouy, A.; Fulweiler, R.; Griffin, A.; Hanley, T.; Hill, T.; Humanes, A.; Mangubhai, S.; Metaxas, A.; Parker, L.; Rivera, H.; Silbiger, N.; Smith, N.; Spalding, A.; Traylor-Knowles, N.; Weigel, B.; Wright, R.; Bates, A. Shifting Our Value System Beyond Citations for a More Equitable Future. Preprints 2021, 2021020493

Abstract

Success and impact metrics in science are based on a system that perpetuates sexist and racist ‘rewards’ through prioritizing citations and impact factors. These metrics are flawed and biased against already marginalized groups and fail to accurately capture the breadth of individuals’ meaningful scientific impacts. We advocate shifting this outdated value system to advance science through principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We outline pathways for a paradigm shift in academic values based on multidimensional mentorship and promoting mentee wellbeing. These actions will require collective efforts supported by academic leaders and administrators to drive essential systemic change.

Keywords

mentorship; citations; bias; sexism; racism; equity; diversity; inclusion; wellbeing

Subject

Social Sciences, Other

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Comments (1)

Comment 1
Received: 16 March 2021
Commenter:
Jack Dowie

The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
Comment: Just wondering whether you see any significant difference in extent or mechanisms between STEM and STEMM? I see some, as a cis white male non-doctor, and it might be worth discussing.
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