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The Career Consequences of a Mistaken Research Project: The Case of Polywater

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  • Arthur M. Diamond, Jr.

Abstract

Polywater, one of the most famous mistaken scientific research programs of the past half‐century, is used as a case study to examine whether polywater researchers later experienced lower citation counts, or less favorable job mobility. The primary result is that simply writing on polywater, either pro or con, has a negative impact on future citations, in comparison with those who never wrote on polywater. The lifetime value of the lost citations is roughly in the range of $13,000 to $19,000. However writing on polywater did not affect the probability of a scientist leaving university employment.

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  • Arthur M. Diamond, Jr., 2009. "The Career Consequences of a Mistaken Research Project: The Case of Polywater," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 68(2), pages 387-411, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ajecsc:v:68:y:2009:i:2:p:387-411
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1536-7150.2009.00633.x
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