The metabolism of new scientific information: a preliminary report.

TO INVESTIGATE the metabolism of new scientific information, questionnaires were sent to the authors of 463 papers presented or “read by title” at two important meetings for cardiovascular and endocrine research workers. The preliminary findings indicate that, of the approximately 60% of authors responding, about one-third submitted their papers for publication before, or within 6 months after, the meeting. The interval between submission and publication was around 6 months. Less than 60% of the papers on which the follow-up is complete were published within 2 years. The study is continuing and a sample of the authors will be interviewed before a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the data can be made. However, the major tentative conclusions are: 1. The factors determining whether and how soon an oral report is published after a meeting are related more to the personal characteristics and working conditions of the author than to the quality of work or to selection and publication delay by journals. 2. The similarity of findings in this study of biological research reports with available data on similar reports in the physical sciences indicates important common features in the metabolism of all new scientific information. 3. The technique of using oral research reports as tracers to study the flow of scientific information is practical and useful.