Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2025
14:25
Method for Efficient Refolding and Purification of Chemoreceptor Ligand Binding Domain
Published on: December 12, 2017
18.0K
Shortcut citations in the methods section: Frequency, problems, and strategies for responsible reuse
Kai Standvoss1,2,3, Vartan Kazezian4, Britta R Lewke5
1Department of Psychiatry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Plos Biology
|April 2, 2024
Summary
Over 90% of scientific papers use methodological shortcut citations, often omitting crucial details. To improve reproducibility, cited methods must be detailed and open access.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Methods sections in scientific papers frequently lack essential details.
- Methodological shortcut citations, where authors reference prior work instead of detailing methods, contribute to this issue.
Approach:
- A meta-research study analyzed shortcut citation practices across neuroscience, biology, and psychiatry.
- Assessed over 750 papers for current citation trends.
- Reviewed 15 papers to evaluate reader experiences with shortcut citations.
- Examined journal policies on reporting previously described methods.
Key Points:
- Over 90% of analyzed papers utilized shortcut citations.
- Shortcut citations can hinder access to essential methodological information.
- Few journals have policies guiding the responsible use of shortcut citations.
Conclusions:
- Propose criteria for acceptable shortcut citations: detailed description, relevance to the citing work, and open access.
- Recommend actions for authors and journals to promote responsible citation and reproducible methods reporting.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Methods of Documentation V: CBE
900
Charting by Exception, or CBE, is a method of documentation used in healthcare, particularly in nursing, that focuses on documenting only significant or abnormal findings rather than recording every detail. This approach aims to streamline the documentation process, improve efficiency, and ensure that healthcare providers can quickly identify deviations from normalcy in patient assessments.
In CBE, healthcare professionals establish predefined standards of practice that define what constitutes...
In CBE, healthcare professionals establish predefined standards of practice that define what constitutes...
900
01:18Methods of Documentation I: Source-Oriented Records
1.1K
Source-oriented records, or SOR, are medical record-keeping organized by the data source. The SOR system was first developed in the mid-1900s to organize the growing patient data in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
In an SOR, each discipline involved in patient care maintains a separate medical record section. This record-keeping method enables easy tracking of patient progress and ensures healthcare staff have access to up-to-date information.
Key Attributes include the following:
In an SOR, each discipline involved in patient care maintains a separate medical record section. This record-keeping method enables easy tracking of patient progress and ensures healthcare staff have access to up-to-date information.
Key Attributes include the following:
1.1K
01:32The Scientific Method
226.6K
The scientific method is a detailed, empirical problem-solving process used by biologists and other scientists. This iterative approach involves formulating a question based on observation, developing a testable potential explanation for the observation (called a hypothesis), making and testing predictions based on the hypothesis, and using the findings to create new hypotheses and predictions.
Generally, predictions are tested using carefully-designed experiments. Based on the outcome of these...
Generally, predictions are tested using carefully-designed experiments. Based on the outcome of these...
226.6K
01:26Methods of Documentation IV: Focus Charting
1.0K
Focus Charting, also known as the focus charting system or "focus documentation," is a systematic documentation approach used in healthcare to organize patient information in medical records.
It typically involves three columns for recording information:
It typically involves three columns for recording information:
1.0K
01:17Chemical Shift: Internal References and Solvent Effects
632
In an NMR sample, precise measurement of the absolute absorption frequencies of nuclei is difficult. A standard internal reference compound is added, and the frequency difference between the reference signal and sample signals is measured.
The internal reference compound generally used in NMR spectroscopy is tetramethylsilane (TMS). TMS is preferred because it is chemically inert, soluble in NMR solvents, and easily removable. Also, the highly shielded methyl protons in TMS yield an intense...
The internal reference compound generally used in NMR spectroscopy is tetramethylsilane (TMS). TMS is preferred because it is chemically inert, soluble in NMR solvents, and easily removable. Also, the highly shielded methyl protons in TMS yield an intense...
632
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
3.3K
At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...
3.3K