The Matilda Effect in Soviet scientometrics? Nalimov, Mulchenko, and the origins of Naukometriya

Abstract This article revisits the early history of Soviet scientometrics, examining the role of Zinaida Mulchenko in writing Naukometriya—the foundational book in this field. While Vasily V. Nalimov is widely regarded as the sole author of the book, the influence of Mulchenko remains mostly unknown. We argue that her involvement in writing Naukometriya was also significant. To support this claim, we first reveal the key aspects of her biography obtained through the archival research and informants’ testimonies. Then, we compare the content of Naukometriya with Mulchenko’s Ph.D. dissertation (the first doctoral thesis in scientometrics defended in the Soviet Union), underlying the structural, systematic, and content overlaps that question the commonly held view of sole authorship. Such analysis is further accompanied with the track record of Nalimov-Mulchenko coauthorship reconstruction preceding the years of Naukometriya publication. Finally, we propose that Mulchenko’s diminished positionality as the coauthor of the book can be understood through the lens of the Matilda Effect—a systematic underrecognition of women’s contributions to science. Drawing from multilevel analysis, we reconstruct her role in writing the book and identify the reasons that eventually led to Mulchenko’s erasure from the history of Soviet scientometrics.