Signals in Science - on the Importance of Signaling in Gaining Attention in Science

Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper No. TI 2004-113/1

29 Pages Posted: 1 Nov 2004

See all articles by Hendrik P. van Dalen

Hendrik P. van Dalen

Tilburg University, CentER; Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)

Kene Henkens

Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute

Date Written: October 15, 2004

Abstract

Which signals are important in gaining attention in science? For a group of 1,371 scientific articles published in 17 demography journals in the years 1990-1992 we track their influence and discern which signals are important in receiving citations. Three types of signals are examined: the author's reputation (as producer of the idea), the journal (as the broker of the idea), and the state of uncitedness (as an indication of the assessment by the scientific community of an idea). The empirical analysis points out that, first, the reputation of journals plays an overriding role in gaining attention in science. Second, in contrast to common wisdom, the state of uncitedness does not affect the future probability of being cited. And third, the reputation of a journal may help to get late recognition (so-called 'sleeping beauties') as well as generate so-called 'flash-in-the-pans': immediately noted articles but apparently not very influential in the long run.

Keywords: Signaling, duration dependence, journals, impact, citations

JEL Classification: C41, D83, O31, O33

Suggested Citation

van Dalen, Hendrik P. and Henkens, Kene, Signals in Science - on the Importance of Signaling in Gaining Attention in Science (October 15, 2004). Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper No. TI 2004-113/1, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=610881 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.610881

Hendrik P. Van Dalen (Contact Author)

Tilburg University, CentER ( email )

Tilburg University
P.O. Box 90153
Tilburg, NL-5000 LE
Netherlands
+13 4668982 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.tilburguniversity.nl/webwijs/show/?uid=h.p.vandalen

Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) ( email )

P.O. Box 11650
NL-2502 AR The Hague
Netherlands
+70 356 5237 (Phone)
+70 364 7187 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.nidi.knaw.nl/en/staff/vandalen/

Kene Henkens

Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute ( email )

P.O. Box 11650
The Hague NL-2502 AR
Netherlands
+3170 3565235 (Phone)
+3170 3647187 (Fax)

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