".... as long as numbers of papers and citations remain the rewarded goal of scientific activity, there is an incentive for people to game the system. A structural shift in science is needed, if we are to wipe out commercialized fraud"
Albakina et al (2025) ‘Stamp out paper mills’ — science sleuths on how to fight fake research
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00212-1
[#]science #academicpublishing
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@gkalinkat As clear as day: Goodhart's law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodhart's_law at play in academia. "When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure".
It's high time to ignore the impact factor and publication metrics of any kind, including citation metrics, and instead, read the papers. The science is in the papers, not in the metrics.
The "shortcut" of an "impartial" metric, even when field-adjusted, led to the present untenable situation of paper mills by dishonest academics and excessive publication even by honest academics.
If you are an academic and either don't have time or don't feel qualified to assess an applicant for a position, a promotion, or a grant, then it's your lucky day: just step aside and let others carry on.
[#]academia #ScientificPublishing
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