The norm of universalism in sciences. Social origin and gender of researchers in Denmark

Heine Andersen
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Heine Andersen: University of Copenhagen

Scientometrics, 2001, vol. 50, issue 2, No 4, 255-272

Abstract: Abstract Implied by the norm of universalism in modern science, known from Merton's CUDOS-normset, is the demand that scientific careers should be open to talents, independent of personalattributes such as race, religion, class, and gender. In spite of a large amount of studies related toCUDOS-norms very few deals with class origin of researchers. Based on a survey among a sampleof 788 Danish researchers this article investigates class bias, compared to gender bias inresearcher recruitment and careers, and researcher assessments of impartiality and objectivity ofevaluations and reward system. The data demonstrate very strong class bias, and also confirm thewell-known gender bias in recruitment, class bias being the strongest. This is shown to be mainlybecause of bias in the educational system, however. Concerning later career attainment bias is alsofound, but much weaker, and most pronounced concerning social origin. Regarding researcherassessments of impartiality there are no indications of strong mistrust among researchers ingeneral; nor are there significant differences in degree of trust in reward system, conditioned byclass origin or gender. In conclusion, the analysis does not lend strong support to an assumption ofdeviance from norms of universalism.

Date: 2001
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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DOI: 10.1023/A:1010521606702

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