31 October 2011

John Davis - How to Avoid Herding in Research | Institute for New Economic Thinking

Easily extended to other fields outside economics.

John Davis - How to Avoid Herding in Research | Institute for New Economic Thinking

An individual fish reduces the danger to itself by swimming as close as possible to the center of the school. That is how schools hold together. John Davis says that researchers and fish are alike -- both engage in herd behavior. PhD production, the role of journals, the incestuous relationship between top universities -- Davis looks at it all with an eye to informing policy to promote diversity and alternative views in the profession -- this is new economic thinking.