In the sociology of science, "Matthew effect" was a term coined by Robert K. Merton to describe how, among other things, eminent scientists will often get more credit than a comparatively unknown researcher, even if their work is similar; it also means that credit will usually be given to researchers who are already famous.[3][4] For example, a prize will almost always be awarded to the most senior researcher involved in a project, even if all the work was done by a graduate student.
Was having a really interesting discussion yesterday, and this term bubbled up.
The Matthew effect (or "accumulated advantage") in sociology is the phenomenon where "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer".
Those who possess power and economic or social capital can leverage those resources to gain more power or capital. The term was first coined by sociologist Robert K. Merton in 1968 takes its name from a line in the biblical Gospel of Matthew:
For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
—Matthew 25:29, New Revised Standard Version.
Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matthew_Effect
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