The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a significant shift in scientific research, with diverse teams pivoting into new disciplines to address the challenges posed by the virus. A study reveals that this interdisciplinary approach, while beneficial for global knowledge, may negatively impact researchers’ careers due to a phenomenon termed the 'pivot penalty.' This term describes the correlation between moving away from an established research focus and receiving fewer citations, which are crucial for success in academic careers. This finding calls for a reevaluation of how research contributions are incentivized within the scientific community.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in research, though scientists face career drawbacks when shifting focus to new areas.
Research shows that the 'pivot penalty' discourages scientists from pursuing interdisciplinary work, as it leads to fewer citations, impacting career advancement.
Collection
[
|
...
]