Scientometrics
Volume/Issue:
Volume 78: Issue 2
Is bigger necessarily better for environmental research?
Authors:
René van der Wal

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Anke Fischer The Macaulay Institute Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH Scotland, UK

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Mick Marquiss

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Steve Redpath

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Sarah Wanless

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Pages:
317–322
Online Publication Date:
04 Oct 2008
Publication Date:
01 Feb 2009
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-2017-0
Restricted access

Abstract  

In restructuring environmental research organisations, smaller sites generally disappear and larger sites are created. These decisions are based on the economic principle, ‘economies of scale’, whereby the average cost of each unit produced falls as output increases. We show that this principle does not apply to the scientific performance of environmental research institutes, as productivity per scientist decreased with increasing size of a research site. The results are best explained by the principle ‘diseconomies of scale’, whereby powerful social factors limit the productivity of larger groupings. These findings should be considered when restructuring environmental science organisations to maximise their quality.

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Cover Scientometrics
Scientometrics
Print ISSN:
0138-9130
Online ISSN:
1588-2861

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Scientometrics
Language English
Size B5
Year of
Foundation		 1978
Volumes
per Year		 1
Issues
per Year		 12
Founder Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 0138-9130 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2861 (Online)

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