 profession stand recept scientif discoveri the matthew effect occur scientist receiv differenti recognit scientif contribut depend locat stratif system merton origin introduc concept explain alloc credit author multipl discoveri collabor in paper concept gener appli scientif work if matthew effect oper recept paper equal qualiti influenc locat author stratif system to test hypothesi data drawn studi design in studi control number citat paper receiv time 2 thi enabl group paper judg roughli equal qualiti time 2 we differ recept paper time 1 depend aspect author's locat stratif system all data indic assess qualiti paper time 2 determin paper's initi recept stratif variabl howev speed diffus paper equal qualiti influenc reput author base work heavili util time discoveri the matthew effect oper scientist locat prestigi point social system scienc all stratif variabl includ emin measur receipt award influenc speed diffus data present indic top paper written high-rank scientist diffus earli top paper low- rank scientist the matthew effect serv focu attent work littl-known men collabor scientist high reput increas retroact visibl earli work scientist greater fame a discuss includ relev data studi resist scientif discoveri 