Abstract
Human information processing in science is explored by observation of success and failure attributions of scientists in a Dutch university sample. Scientific performance is measured by various bibliometric indicators, while attribution theory has been used for the classification of perceived causes of performance. Low performes appear to attribute their success and failure more to external than to internal causes as compared to high performers.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
B.R. Martin, J. Irvine, Research evaluation. Why? How? Paper presented at the George Sarton Centennial Joint Meeting of 4S, EASST and C & C, Ghent, 1984.
H.F. Moed, W.J.M. Burger, J.G. Frankfort, van A.F.J. Raan, The use of bibliometric data for the measurement of university research performance,Research Policy, 14, (1985) 131–149.
H. Rigter, Evaluation of performance of health research in the Netherlands,Research Policy, 15, (1986) 33–48.
H.F. Moed, W.J.M. Burger, J.G. Frankfort, van A.F.J. Raan, On the Measurement of Research Performance: The use of Bibliometric Indicators. Leiden, Research Policy Unit, 1983.
D.C. Pelz, F.M. Andrews,Scientists in Organisations, Ann. Arbot, Institute for Social Research, 1976.
F.M. Andrews, (Ed.)Scientific Productivity. The Effectiveness of Research Groups in Six Countries, Cambridge, 1979.
T.J. Allen,Managing the Flow of Technology. Technology Transfer and the Dissemination of Technological Information within the R & D Organizations, Cambridge, MA., MIT Press, 1977.
R. Katz, T.J. Allen, Project performance and the locus of influence in the R & D matrix.Academy of Management Journal, 28, (1985), 67–87.
R.T. Keller, Predictors of the performance of project groups in R & D organizations,Academy of Management Journal, 29, 4, (1986), 715–726.
J.F.A. Spangenberg, F.J.N. Nijhuis, The impact of multidisciplinarity on scientific performance. MIMEO, Faculty of Economics, Maastricht, 1986.
J.F.A. Spangenberg, Y.W. Bally, R. Starmans, B. Breemhaar, F.J.N. Nijhuis, C. van Dorp, Prediction of scientific performance in clinical medicine,Research Policy (forthcoming).
Y.W. Bally, J.F.A. Spangenberg, R. Starmans, B. Breemhaar, F.J.N. Nijhuis, Management of clinical research in Dutch university hospitals. Paper presented at the Health Economics and Management Conference. Munich, April 1987b.
Hofstede,The Game of Budget Control, Assen, Van Gorcum, 1967.
J. Frieze, B. Weiner, Verwendung von Hinwegreizen und Attributionsurteile für Erfolg und Misserfolg.Journal of Personality, 39, (1971), 591–606.
M.J. Martinko, W.L. Gardner, The leader/member attribution process.Academy of Management Review, 12, (1987), 2.
D.T. Campbell, D.W. Fiske, Convergent and discriminant validation by the multitrait-multimethod matrix.Psychological Bulletin, 56, (1959), 81–105.
Dunette M.D. (Ed.)Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Chicago, 1976.
Görlitz, D. (Ed.)Perspectives on Attribution: Theory and Research, The Bielefeld Symposium, Cambridge, 1980.
F. Herzberg, One more time: how do you motivate employees?Harvard Business Review, (January–February 1968), 53–62.
J.C. McElroy, A typology of attribution leadership research,Academy of Management Review, 7, (1982), 413–417.
van de J.H.R. Poel,Judgement and Control. Individual and Organizational Aspects of Performance Evaluation, Groningen, Wolters-Noordhoff, 1986.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Spangenberg, J.F.A., Nijhuis, F.J.N. Human information processing in science. Scientometrics 18, 389–407 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02020153
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02020153