A Study of the Multiple Contributions of Scientists at One Research Organization

Abstract

Nearly 250 physical scientists at two different laboratories were asked to suggest every type of contribution that should be measured for individual researchers. A preliminary list of measures was compiled. Eight different sources were used to obtain data on the contributions of 166 scientists in one large laboratory, according to these measures; 52 scores were developed on the contributions of these people. Correlation analyses were run on relationships between the scores. A factor analysis yielded 15 relatively independent categories, into which the contribution scores were classified. These categories were arranged according to a science-oriented to organizationally-oriented continuum. The study was conducted in one large laboratory at a government basic research center. Included in the sample of scientists were physicists, mathematicians, electronic engineers, and chemists.