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Authorship and citation manipulation in academic research
Eric A Fong1, Allen W Wilhite2
1Department of Management, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama, United States of America.
Plos One
|December 7, 2017
Summary
Scholarly misconduct, including adding undeserving authors and irrelevant citations, is widespread across many academic fields. Intense competition for funding and publication space drives these ethical lapses, varying by researcher characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Academic integrity
- Research ethics
- Scholarly publishing
Background:
- Authorship and citation manipulation are recognized but understudied ethical issues in academia.
- Intense competition for limited resources (journal space, funding) may incentivize such practices.
- Understanding the prevalence and drivers of these ethical lapses is crucial for maintaining research integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of authorship and citation manipulation in academic research.
- To develop a theoretical framework explaining why scholars engage in such practices.
- To identify factors associated with susceptibility to these ethical lapses.
Main Methods:
- A theoretical framework was developed based on competitive pressures in academia.
- Hypotheses regarding manipulation and its drivers were formulated.
- Data from over 12,000 survey responses from 110,000 scholars across 18 disciplines were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Widespread misattribution in publications and grant proposals was found.
- Significant variations in manipulation were observed across academic rank, discipline, sex, and publication history.
- A majority of scholars disapprove of these tactics, yet many feel pressured or view it as "the game".
Conclusions:
- The study confirms significant ethical declines in scholarly practices due to competitive pressures.
- Interventions targeting the review process may mitigate these issues, but progress is anticipated to be gradual.
- Addressing the systemic pressures is key to fostering a more ethical research environment.
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