Could Distributed Peer Review Better Decide Grant Funding?
The landscape of academic grant funding is notoriously competitive and plagued by lengthy, bureaucratic processes, exacerbated by difficulties in finding willing reviewers. Distributed […]
‘Bukavu Series’ Addresses Power Dynamics in Fieldwork
Research has long highlighted the importance of research associates and assistants in the production of knowledge, and the importance of locally embedded expertise – though often without giving them a voice. An online project seeks to address that.
‘Once You Engage in Political Violence, It Becomes Easier to Do It Again’
The Conversation asked Ore Koren, even as what some are calling an insurrection unfolded at the U.S. Capitol, to ask him for some perspective on the event.
Gift Giving, Gift Returning – The Unexpected Emotions Behind Receiving an Unwanted Gift
Is it possible that the experience of receiving gifts we do not like can take a toll on our mental well-being? Is […]
A Different Kind of Masking Helps Explain Consciousness
How much are you conscious of right now? Are you conscious of just the words in the center of your visual field or all the words surrounding it? We tend to assume that our visual consciousness gives us a rich and detailed picture of the entire scene in front of us. The truth is very different
How the Psychology of Mask Wearing Can Encourage Mask Use
Past research has shown that psychological factors such as an individual’s perception of risk and tendency towards risky behavior influence adherence to health behaviors. This is now being seen in the current pandemic.
View From South Africa: Complexity Theory and University Leadership
Cyrill Walters investigated the current styles of leadership in South African higher education institutions and has developed a model of the primary competencies leaders need.
Why the h-index is a Bogus Measure of Academic Impact
Although experts in bibliometry have pointed out the dubious nature of the h-index, most researchers do not always seem to understand that its properties make it a far-from-valid index to seriously and ethically assess the quality or scientific impact of publications.
COVID Can Change How We See and Use Research
In the wake of COVID-19, researchers can become trusted figures of authority who can purposely use their institutional privilege and re-appropriate their research networks, skills and knowledge to better the lives of vulnerable populations during a pandemic.
