Devices and Shopping — New Trends, New Potential, and New Perils for Retailers
As customers become facile with a new level of information infrastructure, what will that mean for us over the next few years?
Better Late Than Never? Economists Grapple with Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure
A major economics association establishes conflict of interest and disclosure rules for its publications, expecting others to follow. But is the lateness of these rules reassuring, or maddening?
My Argument for Public Access to Research Reports
As the deadline for responses to the OSTP RFI approaches, perhaps we should reflect on how the government can make its own research reports available in a more complete, direct, and affordable manner.
Tweets, and Our Obsession with Alt Metrics
Can tweets predict future citations? A study of article tweets raises validity and ethical concerns.
Dangerous Restraint — Is Censoring Science in Anyone's Best Interest?
A controversial request that two journals censor full data reporting for fear of bioterror raises many questions, points to precedents, and hints at a better way to handle the problem than stifling scientific information.
Quality Reviewing Declines with Experience
A longitudinal study shows most reviewers submit poorer quality reviews over time. Cognitive decline and competing responsibilities may help to explain why experience may be a liability in peer-review.
Measuring the Wrong Things — Has the Scientific Method Been Compromised By Careerism?
As we continue to measure the number of papers, citations, and the combination, perhaps we should be measuring a much lower number — the number of studies that can be replicated after publication.
Can We Measure the Value of Professional Editors?
eLife asserts that professional editors create more harm than good. But how do we know that? How can we know that? Or is this just an emotional argument based on anecdote and conjecture rather than fact?
No Such Thing As a Bad Book? Part 2 — Implications and Problems
Who can judge quality or utility? How are library acquisition practices optimized? Continuing an earlier post, the tensions are now exposed by budgetary limitations, and the repercussions of shifting away from traditional acquisition practices will be felt for years to come.
Short, Silent, and Stunning — Comparing Earthquakes By Energy Release
A silent infographic showing the power of moving tectonic plates. Unexpectedly dramatic.
Is Peer Review a Coin Toss?
When authors think peer-review is about their chances of acceptance rather than the quality of their paper, it can lead to the wrong expectations and unproductive behaviors.
No Such Thing As a Bad Book? Rethinking "Quality" in the Research Library
Two great examples of books that contain more error than fact raise some important questions of what belongs in a library, and the purpose of acquisitions practices.
Butt of the Joke — A Review Article Parody Proposes Smoking for Endurance Athletes
The vaunted review article gets a neat little send-up, and reminds us that part of the value of humor is that it keeps you loose and helps you retain a skeptical perspective.
Realistic Approaches to the US Federal Public Access RFIs
The two Requests for Information recently put forth by the federal government require a realistic set of responses, and hint at some changes in attitudes and approaches.
Science Increases Wonder — Robin Ince and the Power of Reality
The universe is magical, but we tend to take it for granted. This TED Talk will get you back into the zone of amazement.