When scientific citations go rogue: Uncovering 'sneaked references'
Researchers discovered "sneaked references," a new academic fraud involving adding extra references to boost citation counts. This manipulation distorts research visibility. Recommendations include rigorous verification and transparency in managing citations.
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Researchers have uncovered a new form of academic fraud called "sneaked references," where extra references are added to the metadata of scientific articles to artificially inflate citation counts. This manipulation distorts the visibility and impact of certain researchers and journals. The investigation, led by a team of academic sleuths, revealed that at least 9% of references in journals published by the Technoscience Academy were "sneaked references." Some researchers benefited significantly from these illegitimate citations, with one individual gaining over 3,000 additional citations. The discovery raises concerns about the integrity of scientific impact measurement systems and the reliance on metrics for research evaluation. To address this issue, the researchers recommend rigorous verification of metadata, independent audits, and increased transparency in managing references and citations. While the problematic citations have been addressed, the implications of such manipulation on research evaluation and integrity remain significant.
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Researchers discover a new form of scientific fraud: 'sneaked references'
Researchers identify "sneaked references" as a new form of scientific fraud, artificially boosting citation counts. Concerns arise over integrity in research evaluation systems, suggesting measures for verification and transparency. Manipulation distorts research impact assessment.