To address complex problems, scholars are increasingly faced with challenges of integrating diverse knowledge domains. We analyzed the evolution of this convergence paradigm in the broad ecosystem of brain science, which provides a real-time testbed for evaluating two modes of cross-domain integration - subject area exploration via expansive learning and cross-disciplinary collaboration among domain experts. We show that research involving both modes features a 16% citation premium relative to a mono-disciplinary baseline. Further comparison of research integrating neighboring versus distant research domains shows that the cross-disciplinary mode is essential for integrating across relatively large disciplinary distances. Yet we find research utilizing cross-domain subject area exploration alone - a convergence shortcut - to be growing in prevalence at roughly 3% per year, significantly faster than the alternative cross-disciplinary mode, despite being less effective at integrating domains and markedly less impactful. By measuring shifts in the prevalence and impact of different convergence modes in the 5-year intervals before and after 2013, our results indicate that these counterproductive patterns may relate to competitive pressures associated with global Human Brain flagship funding initiatives. Without additional policy guidance, such Grand Challenge flagships may unintentionally incentivize such convergence shortcuts, thereby undercutting the advantages of cross-disciplinary teams in tackling challenges calling on convergence.
翻译:为解决复杂问题,学者们越来越多地面临整合不同知识领域的挑战。我们分析了大脑科学广泛生态系统中这一趋同模式的演变情况。我们分析了大脑科学广泛生态系统中这一趋同模式的演变情况,该模式为评价两种跨领域整合模式提供了实时测试,即:通过广泛的学习和领域专家之间的跨学科合作,对主题领域进行探索;我们表明,两种模式的研究都具有相对于单一学科基线的16%的引文溢价;对将邻近研究领域与遥远研究领域相结合的研究进行的进一步比较表明,跨学科模式对于在相对较大的学科间距离进行整合至关重要。然而,我们发现,仅利用跨领域主题领域探索(即趋同捷径)的研究,每年的流行率大约为3%,大大高于替代的跨学科模式,尽管在整合领域方面效率较低,影响也明显较小。通过衡量2013年之前和之后的5年间隔内不同趋同模式的流行程度和影响,我们的结果表明,这些反效果模式可能与全球人类大脑旗舰筹资举措相关的竞争压力有关。没有额外的政策指导,这种大挑战旗舰可能无意地鼓励这种趋同的捷径,从而削弱跨学科团队应对这些挑战的优势。