One of our many cognitive biases is to give too much credit for a group undertaking to the leader (or most visible member) of the group. I could illustrate that with how country leaders get too much credit for development success, how firm CEOs get too much credit, how soloists and conductors get too much credit relative to the orchestra … but I want to use the example of ME getting too much credit … for this blog.
This is of course assuming that you like this blog (if you don’t, then I DO deserve all the blame).
What I really want to do here is to give well-deserved and long overdue credit to my fellow blogger, Development Research Institute Associate Director Laura Freschi. She has sole-authored many of the biggest hits here on the blog, including pieces on Do Millennium Villages Work? and History Matters. The piece on Haiti Earthquake Relief was our 3rd most popular ever, and it was done while I was on vacation. She has co-authored many pieces with me in which she more than carried her share of the load. Behind the scenes, she manages the blog, ran the Best and Worst contest, does a lot of research, finds great guest contributors, and exerts her street smarts and good judgment to restrain Yours Truly from some ill-considered posts.
Yet despite all this, I have often gotten comments (usually favorable) on her posts that are attributed to ME as if I had written them. During the big critical discussion on the Aid Watch blog that we had last week, all the praise and blame was aimed at me alone (again the attribution of blame was correct, but not the praise). Admittedly, this discussion was partly about my personal tone, but Laura’s important role in the Aid Watch blog overall was overlooked. (And even on my personal tone, I would have been in even more trouble with some of you critics if she had not been a restraining and balancing influence).
Maybe I have been acting in some way that hogs all the attention, but if so, I want to correct that now. Please get over the leader bias on this blog, this blog too is a small spontaneous order in which everyone is contributing – and so here I say, thank you, Laura.
8 Comments
Might I also say good job Laura. But on that note (no leader bias and acknowledging all contributions) – there have been a few times when I have asked – in good faith – a genuine question (coming from an anth/dev theory background – the details of, say, dev economics – or RTs is often new to me)….and I have never received a response. I notice this is a theme with many posters (some have even repeatedly asked for a response). Unfortunately, overwhelmingly, no response is forthcoming.
I understand that you are – clearly – very busy, as are we all. And, I am sure you are thinking that you are not here to educate the readers (fair enough). But, if this is to be a genuine forum for discussion, and it clearly has a broad readership – some who are on the fence so to speak – then, if a genuine quention is asked, surely a short, genuine, non-snarky response is not too much to ask? It seems to me that such a response should be seen as Part Of the dialouge you are trying to foster by doing this blog to begin with.
People have different backgrounds, education levels, experience etc. – that, obviously, lead to different views on development, as well as what works best (or not). But, it seems to me that unless a question or comment is asked that fits your pre-determined view of what Should be asked you don’t bother to respond. You have a unique opportunity to keep the dialouge going. No one is asking for an essay-length response, but if you are able to respond to a sincere question – you should. Otherwise the leader bias is only coming from your end.
Anyway, that’s my two cents worth.
Good job overall to you both anyway (and all guest contributors).
Well done, and very well deserved praise
Well done both. Much here to be greatly appreciated (even when you criticise the institution I work for…)
And, in the spirit of univited criticism, let me state my personal belief that a few more posts that look like the early stages of a policy-focussed academic article rather than the beginnings of a bar brawl would be good (but would hate to see the imbalance swing the other way, so to speak…)
“there have been a few times when I have asked – in good faith – a genuine question ”
Its brave and time-consuming to blog effectively, but that is nothing compared to the bravery and time commitment of a blogger who reads, let alone responds to “below the line” folk…
Agreed that Laura definitely deserves recognition for her contributions. Thanks for dedicating this post to highlight her work.
Can’t wait to see the lifetime achievement award handed over to the lady from the goats, the bibles and other miracles.
Also, Laura is a woman and therefore has to work twice as hard to be heard and credited.
I comment on many blogs – usually under pseudonyms bc I’d rather vent freely than have to censor myself – since I’m not getting paid to vent – and I’m not in an influential enough position to make a difference anyway.
That being said, what I’ve noticed very clearly is that I always get more kudos when I post under a male name than a female name. It’s clearly in everyone’s subconcsious to bash opinionated women and put them in their place, but to thoughtfully consider men who make “interesting posts”.
It’s subtle…but I notice it consistently across comment logs.
Also a comment on visibility bias. We definitely give more credit to that which is more visible bc we assume visibility is correlated with substance. We reasonably assume that where there’s smoke – there’s fire (even though too often where there’s smoke…there’s only smoke and mirrors!). I think this is an annoying aspect of blogging – it gives a distorted sense of credibility bc one is making themself visible but doesn’t mean they have the substance just bc they have the time/inclination to blog. I don’t think the competition is serious enough to separate the sheep from the goats yet.
And on behalf of her co-workers and the DRI staff: the applause is much-deserved.
I’d like to second everything Androgyne said. completely agree.