Influencia de la carrera investigadora en la productividad e impacto de los investigadores españoles. El papel de la ventaja acumulativa

Abstract

Resumen: La carrera investigadora puede tener un efecto relevante sobre las opciones de éxito profesional de los investigadores. Dicho efecto, conocido como ventaja acumulativa, contribuiría a agudizar la desigual distribución de la productividad y el impacto entre los investigadores. Este trabajo se centra en determinar la presencia de ventaja acumulativa en una muestra de 174 investigadores españoles de cuatro áreas de conocimiento (Física, Química, Biología y Bioquímica). Para contrastar el efecto de la carrera investigadora se especifi ca un modelo multiecuacional que incluye variables sobre la formación pre y posdoctoral así como con los departamentos donde trabajan los investigadores. El modelo incorpora un conjunto de hipótesis basadas en la revisión de la literatura. La estimación se realiza mediante Path Analysis. Asimismo, ha sido necesario desarrollar un método de estimación de la calidad de los departamentos en una escala única válida para cualquier país y disciplina. Los principales resultados confi rman la presencia de ventaja acumulativa siendo la productividad predoctoral el principal determinante de la productividad de los 10 años posteriores a la obtención del grado de doctor. Finalmente, se observa un sesgo tanto en productividad como en impacto a favor de los hombres. Palabras clave: productividad científi ca, carrera investigadora, ventaja acumulativa, path analysis.

Cumulative advantages and social capabilities in scientific mobility in the Health Sciences: The Spanish case

“…In any case, in the two studies it is confirmed that the research career is the primary variable for going abroad. This importance of the research career is consistent with previously mentioned studies [ 23 , 24 , 44 ].…”

“…Block 1 ( cumulative advantages ). This block is composed of five motivational scientific mobility variables in order to establish the differences between researchers, as reported by Merton [ 21 , 22 ], with a special significance for the variable on the research career [ 23 , 24 ]: (1) opportunities to improve my career in the future ( research career ), (2) to improve my training ( training ), (3) greater availability of research funds ( funding ), (4) outstanding faculty , colleagues or research team ( working with a world-class team ), and (5) the prestige of the institution in the research area ( institutional prestige ).…”

“…These cumulative advantages are related to trained capacity, structural location, available resources, institutional prestige and an optimal working environment for world-class team [ 22 ]. Following this contribution by Merton [ 21 , 22 ], later research has highlighted the importance of the scientists’ research careers in order to explain their scientific performance [ 23 ], especially in their early stages [ 24 ]. Merton [ 21 ] has referred to this concept as the “The Matthew Effect in Science” as inspired by the biblical passage: “For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath” [ 25 , 26 ].To capitalize on these cumulative advantages, scientists are extremely competitive and leave their countries in order to achieve their full scientific potential, otherwise they would stay [ 27 ].…”

Entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship and scientific mobility: The Spanish case

“…This study includes three groups of Spanish scientists: 1) Spanish scientists working abroad (SSA), 2) scientists who have returned to Spain, after practicing science for at least one year abroad (SRS), and 3) young researchers in Spain (YRS). The latter group is added because these researchers are highly susceptible to going abroad in order to obtain cumulative advantages [ 22 , 25 ] and especially new opportunities to develop their scientific career [ 26 , 27 ], but have not yet initiated their move abroad. Said group has been defined as scientists that have begun Doctorate programmes in Spain and have continued to work in science up to the age of 41.…”

“…These advantages are related to the trained capacity, structural location, available resources, institutional prestige and an optimal working environment for world-class teams [ 25 ]. Following this important contribution, some later work has highlighted the importance of the scientific career in order to explain their scientific performance [ 26 ], especially in the early-stages of their career [ 27 ]. In search of these cumulative advantages, researchers are highly competitive and will jump ship in order to find environments that allow them to increase their knowledge, and if they have to move abroad or stay at home in order to achieve this, they are prepared to do so [ 28 ].…”