Braun Tibor, Schubert András (szerk.): Szakértői bírálat (peer review) a tudományos kutatásban : Válogatott tanulmányok a téma szakirodalmából (A MTAK Informatikai És Tudományelemzési Sorozata 7., 1993)
RUSTUM ROY: Alternatives to Review by Peers: A Contribution to the Theory of Scientific Choice
150 ROY: ALTERNATIVES TO REVIEW BY PEERS corresponds much more accurately to the realities of the distribution of talents. This schema has the merit of rewarding productivity of the same "commodities" wherever they are produced. A wider range of universities will get some money on a steady basis, even if the total sum is not large. It is not by any means obvious that this funding scheme will by itself increase co-operation. It will, on the other hand, certainly diminish dishonesty, which as Dr Yalow has pointed out may be as harmful as anything else to the scientific community. It will make co-operation a little more likely. 1 2 A Simpler Formula for Matching Support A simpler version of the formula proposed above has been advocated in the various'schemes proposed by others for "matching" funds. Thus, Dr Weinberg's idea would provide basic research funds to a unit or an individual in direct proportion to the mission-oriented research done by that unit or individual; in the formula which I propose it would consist only of the third term. Similarly, the report of the commission on industrial innovation, under the chairmanship of Jordan Baruch and appointed by President Carter, proposed that universities should receive five to seven times the amount provided by industry. 1 3 In effect, this proposal is represented by the fourth term of my formula. I believe a case can be made for using Dr Weinberg's rationale and reducing the formulae to a matching grant proportional to C times total support by mission-oriented agencies plus D times support by industry. This would, however, limit the general applicability of the formula since certain less applied fields would be at a severe disadvantage. Support Based on Peer-Evaluation of Performer's Past Achievements The system based on performance can be applied to individuals. In this variant, support would be provided on the basis of the entire, fairly recent achievement in research of the individual. This is the system now being used by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of South Africa. The peers who are selected to evaluate the scientific achievement of any individual must rigorously exclude any possible conflict of interest. In the case of American academic scientists, this would exclude other American academic scientists. Industry and government scientists who cannot possibly be supported from the same source provide a much larger pool of candidates 1 2 Yalow, Rosalyn S., "Is Subterfuge Consistent with Good Science", Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society, II, 5 (1?82), pp. 40l^t04. 1 3 Baruch, Jordan, Final Report of the Advisory Committee on Industrial Innovation, United States Department of Commerce (Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. September 1979).
