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The Problem(s) with success



 On Date:    Sat, 16 Sep 2000 21:20:30 -0400
    Al Bregman <BREGMAN@HEBB.PSYCH.MCGILL.CA> wrote in part on ..
 Subject: Audio Demos


>Some of the reviewers thought the idea was very interesting but were
>troubled by the absence of peer review in this approach.

This happens not only in the scientific / research communities, but in
the arts and creative ones as well. When the situation was that resources
were limited and they needed to 'distributed' to the 'most worthy', peer
revue may have been of importance. (may?). But, sadly, I'm not sure why
such a prestigeous and noted researcher as Dr Bregman (having written a
central text on ASA) should be, and how his ideas 'could be' reviewed.


> ... tap the collective wisdom of the AUDITORY list members by asking all
>of you for suggestions about how some sort of review process could be
>built into this project.

If the proposal was to receive funding, then there will / would need to
be assessment, however, Dr Bregman continues ...


>The main problem, in my mind, concerns the function of Editor.  Who would
>play editor?

IMV, most likely someone who is more knowledgeable in the field than Dr
Bregman.


> Why would he or she want to do it?

Once again, from an academic persepctive, possibly for tenure, promotion,
merit consideration.


> In a normal review process
>the editor selects the reviewers and mediates between them and the authors.

Maybe the question could be, given the web and the free distribution of
ideas, why would one need to go through the archaic process of 'selecting
the best ideas'? (Was the Theory of Relativity peer reviewed? What was
the assessment of the editor and reviewers?)

From the arts community, a brief review of the
[[portion lost - dpwe]]
about 130 years of the presitgious "Prix de Rome" finds about 4 reasonably
ell known names, and the omission of many of the more significant French
composers of the 20th century. The competition was notably political, and
always conservatively PC.


>Who would want to be editor for just a single project?  Who would select
>such an editor?  What about competition?

In my experience, why not just publish directly to the web? The arts
community has "indies" (independents) -- would Dr Bregman be viewed as a
"rogue" researcher if he decided to bypass the 'normal' route? Would his
ideas and research have less value, or perhaps less 'perceived' value? (Or
are these the same thing?)

From a quick (sic) reading of his book, I would
[[portion lost - dpwe]]
he may have, as I do to those who participate on this list (with one
otable exception).


> In a normal editorial role, one
>chooses the most meritorious of competing manuscripts, and rejects the
>others, but in the proposed case, there is no competition, so the editor can
>only suggest improvements and ultimately accept or reject what has been
>offered.

The arts community (funded!) suffers from the same dilemma, and funding
bodies face the same issue. ...  And if the idea is rejected by the editor
as being "less meritorious", today, does this decision effect the
distribution of the idea? (work of art?). Not with web access. But maybe
these ideas are just a little ahead of my times.


>I would be most grateful for any suggestions and thoughts that you might
>have.

A group I am involved in has taken the route of (semi-) independent
arts-work distribution, and the 'success' of the method has led finding
groups to the conclusion that funding isn't necessary. The failures of
success.



Best

Kevin
kaustin@vax2.concordia.ca


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
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      Professor K Austin
      EuCuE - Department of Music / Departement de musique
      universite Concordia University
      7141, rue Sherbrooke o
      Montreal, QC  H4B 1R6
      CANADA

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