Why is there so much vertical integration in academic publishing?
Why does Clarivate need a “Web of Science product family, that also includes services/applications such as Publons, EndNote, EndNote Click, and ScholarOne [journals workflow management]” as well as Cortellis [“suite of life science intelligence solutions spanning discovery and clinical development through regulatory submission and commercialization”], DRG [“connected data and solutions that span the entire healthcare ecosystem”], ProQuest [“90,000 authoritative sources, 6 billion digital pages … world’s largest collection of dissertations and theses … three centuries of global, national, regional and specialty newspapers; more than 450,000 ebooks; rich aggregated collections of the world’s most important scholarly journals and periodicals,” and other companies. Why does RELX (Elsevier) need not just Science Direct [2,650 journals, 19 million articles], but also Mendeley, Interfolio [“Faculty Information System”], Scopus [“Enhance research and scholarship with comprehensive data and analytics”], LexisNexis [“The most powerful legal AI on the planet”], Risk Solutions [“integrated financial crime and anti-money laundering compliance solutions”], etc etc.
The answer is you’re replaceable, and replacing you is going to make them a lot of money.
Example
In this example, I scan the literature for a paper that suggests “future research,” then use a cheap ChatGPT account to generate a research proposal to address the need, then a peer review of the research proposal, then a funding agency decision about the proposal. The point is: If you had access to all the research in the world, especially current research, research in progress, research in every language, and a huge corpus of peer reviews and decision letters, can you generate the next generation of research? This took five minutes and no special skills. It’s not that good, of course, but you can see where this is going. This is why it’s such a shame that the vast body of research output and work product is tied up in proprietary databases instead of publicly available, so we could control the process democratically and take into account things like, you know, humanity.
Future research query
Me, with no AI skills or knowledge, to my cheap ChatGPT account: if i give you a paragraph of text that suggests “future research,” can you write a fictional response that addresses that need?
ChatGPT: Absolutely! Go ahead and provide the paragraph of text that suggests “future research,” and I’ll craft a fictional response addressing that need.
Me: searches for “future research” in JSTOR, finds a random article from last year:
Almost half the target children in our sample (all of whom were under six years old) experienced multiple childcare changes; indeed, one in five experienced three or more. Had we collected information on additional children in the household, the number of changes would likely have been even higher. Moreover, had we collected data from a wider swath of low- and moderate-income families who do not benefit from subsidized care but nevertheless economic challenges finding and maintaining affordable care, we might have observed even more changes. Future research would benefit from examining the implications of changes for families at different levels of economic need.
Study design
ChatGPT: To address the identified need for future research as highlighted in your paragraph, a fictional study could be designed as follows:
Title of Study: “Navigating the Childcare Maze: Understanding the Impact of Multiple Childcare Changes Across Economic Spectrum”
Abstract: This study aims to expand on previous research that highlighted the prevalence of multiple childcare changes among families with children under six years old, particularly focusing on the diverse economic backgrounds. By including a broader range of low- and moderate-income families, especially those not benefiting from subsidized childcare, this research intends to comprehensively analyze the implications of frequent childcare transitions on family dynamics, children’s developmental outcomes, and parental stress levels across different economic strata.
Methodology:
Participant Selection: A diverse group of families, including those without access to subsidized childcare, will be selected. The study will ensure a balanced representation of various income levels.
Data Collection:
Quantitative data on the number of childcare changes, reasons for changes, and economic background will be collected through surveys.
Qualitative data from interviews will provide insights into parental strategies, challenges, and impacts on family life and child development.
Analysis: The data will be analyzed to identify patterns and correlations between the frequency of childcare changes and economic status, and their implications on child development and family well-being.
Expected Outcomes:
Detailed understanding of the challenges faced by different economic groups in maintaining stable childcare.
Identification of the impacts of childcare instability on children’s emotional, social, and cognitive development.
Insights into how economic constraints influence parental decisions regarding childcare.
Policy recommendations to support families in achieving more stable childcare arrangements, tailored to different economic needs.
Significance: This study will fill the gap in understanding the broader implications of childcare instability, offering valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and social workers to devise strategies that support families across the economic spectrum in securing stable, quality childcare.
By conducting such a study, the aim would be to provide a more nuanced understanding of how childcare instability affects families differently based on their economic situations, thereby contributing significantly to the body of research in this area and informing more targeted policy interventions.
Me: Great, thanks. Now pretend you are a peer reviewer for a research granting agency, and write a review of the proposed research.
ChatGPT: Review of Proposed Research: “Navigating the Childcare Maze: Understanding the Impact of Multiple Childcare Changes Across Economic Spectrum”
Reviewer: [Peer Reviewer Name]
Date: [Current Date]
Overview: The proposed study aims to investigate the implications of multiple childcare changes on families with varying economic backgrounds. This research expands on previous findings that showed a high frequency of childcare transitions, particularly among families with children under six years old.
Strengths:
Relevance and Timeliness: The study addresses an under-researched area with significant societal implications, making it both timely and relevant. The focus on diverse economic backgrounds fills a notable gap in existing literature.
Comprehensive Methodology: The mixed-method approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, is commendable. This methodology is likely to provide a well-rounded understanding of the issue.
Potential for Policy Impact: The study’s outcomes could have significant implications for childcare policies, potentially leading to more effective support systems for families across economic spectrums.
Areas for Improvement:
Participant Selection Criteria: While the proposal mentions a diverse group of families, specific criteria for participant selection should be clearly defined to ensure representativeness and avoid selection bias.
Operational Definitions: Key terms such as ‘economic challenges’ and ‘childcare instability’ need clearer operational definitions. This will enhance the clarity and precision of the research.
Data Analysis Techniques: The proposal could benefit from a more detailed description of the data analysis techniques, particularly how the research will handle and interpret qualitative data.
Longitudinal Aspect: Considering the developmental implications, a longitudinal component might provide deeper insights into the long-term effects of childcare changes.
Ethical Considerations:
The proposal should include a more detailed plan for addressing potential ethical concerns, especially regarding the privacy and emotional well-being of participating families.
Conclusion:
Overall, the proposal is promising and addresses a significant gap in current research on childcare and family dynamics. With some refinements in methodology and participant selection, this study has the potential to contribute valuable insights to the field and inform future policies and practices in childcare. The proposed study is recommended for funding with the suggested modifications.
Me: Great. Finally, pretend you are the program officer of the granting agency, and write a decision letter with regard to this proposal.
ChatGPT:
[Granting Agency Name]
[Agency Address]
[Date]
Attn: [Principal Investigator’s Name]
Re: Grant Application for “Navigating the Childcare Maze: Understanding the Impact of Multiple Childcare Changes Across Economic Spectrum”
Dear [Principal Investigator’s Name],
Thank you for submitting your grant application to [Granting Agency Name] for the project titled “Navigating the Childcare Maze: Understanding the Impact of Multiple Childcare Changes Across Economic Spectrum.” We appreciate the time and effort you have put into developing this proposal, which addresses a critical and under-researched area in childcare and family dynamics.
After a thorough review by our panel of experts and considering the peer review feedback, we are pleased to inform you that your application has been approved for funding. We believe your study’s focus on the implications of childcare changes across various economic levels will significantly contribute to our understanding of this complex issue and potentially inform future policy and practice in this field.
However, as noted by our reviewers, we recommend the following refinements to your proposal to enhance its effectiveness and impact:
Participant Selection Criteria: Please provide more detailed and specific criteria for selecting participants to ensure a representative sample and mitigate selection bias.
Operational Definitions: We advise clearly defining key terms such as ‘economic challenges’ and ‘childcare instability’ to strengthen the clarity and precision of your research.
Data Analysis Techniques: A more comprehensive description of your data analysis techniques is required, particularly regarding the handling and interpretation of qualitative data.
Ethical Considerations: Ensure that your study includes robust measures to address ethical concerns, particularly around the privacy and emotional well-being of participants.
Longitudinal Aspect: Consider incorporating a longitudinal component to explore the long-term effects of childcare changes on families.
We are excited about the potential of your research and look forward to seeing its progress and outcomes. Please respond with a revised proposal incorporating these suggestions by [Revised Proposal Deadline]. Once received, we will proceed with the formalization of the grant award.
Congratulations on your successful application, and we are eager to support your work in this important area.
Sincerely,
[Your Name] [Program Officer’s Title] [Granting Agency Name]
—
Previously Published on familyinequality with Creative Commons License
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