Is bigger necessarily better for environmental research?

• Published in: Scientometrics Vol. 78; no. 2; pp. 317 - 322
• Main Authors: van der Wal, René, Fischer, Anke, Marquiss, Mick, Redpath, Steve, Wanless, Sarah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2009; Springer
• Subjects: Author productivity; Bibliometrics. Scientometrics; Bibliometrics. Scientometrics. Evaluation; Computer Science; Environment; Exact sciences and technology; Information and communication sciences; Information science. Documentation; Information Storage and Retrieval; Library and information science. General aspects; Library Science; Research centers; Sciences and techniques of general use; Publication Rate; Scientific Performance; Economic Principle; Large Site; Small Site; Performance evaluation; Research institute; Scientific research; Author productivity
• ISSN: 0138-9130; 1588-2861
• DOI: 10.1007/s11192-007-2017-0

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.