Jan-Willem Romeijn (University of Groningen), Remco Heesen (University of Cambridge)
This paper offers a new angle on the common idea that the process of science does not support epistemic diversity. Under minimal assumptions on the nature of journal editing we prove that editorial procedures, despite being impartial in themselves, disadvantage less prominent research programs. This purely statistical bias in article selection further skews existing differences in the success rate and hence attractiveness of research programs, and exacerbates the reputation difference between the programs. The paper ends with a number of recommendations that may help promote scientific diversity through editorial decision making.
