Anecdotal evidence suggests the presence of geographic bias in knowledge diffusion. Yet, there are few controlled or experimental studies investigating this phenomenon. This makes it difficult to draw strong conclusions about causality. This review only found three experimental studies conducted on the topic, suggesting further experimental research could be necessary.
The role of geographic bias in knowledge diffusion: a systematic review and narrative synthesis
(He/Him)
PhD Researcher
School of Public Health
Imperial College London
Mark Skopec is a PhD student and teaching assistant at Imperial College London. He is currently researching the implementation of data-driven decolonisation initiatives.
American
Biases can interfere with the objective assessment of research. Research should be judged on its merits, rather than where it is from. This applies to peer review, as well as at the individual level.
About
This research synthesised the evidence from three randomised and controlled studies investigating geographic bias in the evaluation of research.
The research was designed to highlight the role biases play in the prejudgment of research on a global scale, and to provide recommendations on how to create a more equitable playing field in the diffusion of knowledge, both at the level of peer review for academic journals and for research consumption at the individual level.
Key Findings
Institutions that contain a geographic identifier or a recognizable "brand" linked to a country elicit a bias. Research from an institution in a high-income country ("Harvard University" or "University of Freiburg") was rated higher than research from a low-income country ("University of Addis Ababa" or "University of Mzuzu"). Separately, reviewers recommend articles for acceptance if they were from top-ranked universities, which were more often in high-income countries.
Academic journals that contain geographic identifiers could also elicit bias. The two studies that investigated this dimension of geographic bias did not find conclusive results of its effect on the evaluation of research. Future studies could be designed to investigate this in more detail.
How to use
People should reflect on how their biases impact them personally and professionally. For example, they should employ a structured approach when they review and critique research, rather than judging it based on other factors that shouldn't affect the quality of the research, such as where it is from.
Teachers should seek to give their students a more inclusive representation of topics. They could reflect on the research they are using, aim to include research produced outside of familiar spaces in Europe or North America, and invite students to contribute new, more diverse perspectives and research.
Want to read the full paper? It is available open access
Mark Skopec, et al. (2020). ‘The role of geographic bias in knowledge diffusion: a systematic review and narrative synthesis’. Research Integrity and Peer Review , 5 (2), pp.1-14.
About this research
This research was independently conducted and did not receive funding from outside of the university.
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UN Sustainable Development Goals
This research contributes to the following SDGs
About this research
This research was independently conducted and did not receive funding from outside of the university.
This paper was co-authored
Hamdi Issa
Julie Reed
Matthew Harris
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What it means
This research helps to illustrate that we all have biases based on our different backgrounds. These biases are neither good nor bad, but we need to be aware of them when we review and consume research. This is particularly important in STEM subjects and the sciences, which are founded on the principles of objectivity and merit. Understanding and accepting that biases affect us all can make us better scientists and researchers.
Methodology
A systematic review was conducted. Based on the research question, a number of different search terms were used to systematically search several databases. The results were screened to exclude articles which did not fit the criteria (randomised or controlled studies). The abstracts of the remaining articles were read to further narrow down the articles. After reading the remaining articles in full, three were chosen. Narrative synthesis was used: different outcomes were described and compared. Limitations included the fact that the databases searched were predominantly medical databases, and only published articles written in English were examined.
Glossary
Descriptive Study
In a descriptive study, information is collected without changing the environment in which that information is collected. The aim is to describe and characterize the environment.
Analytical Study
An analytical study is designed to test a specific hypothesis , and usually includes the manipulation of the environment it is conducted in. This means one can determine a causal relationship between the manipulation and the outcome that is observed.
