Hundreds of extreme self-citing scientists revealed in new database (nature.com)

Article summary

A new database has revealed hundreds of scientists who excessively self-cite their own work, potentially inflating their credibility. This phenomenon is compared to link farms and spam in online publications. The database highlights the eclectic mix of researchers who engage in this practice, including some Nobel laureates and lesser-known scientists. The issue raises concerns about the integrity of citation metrics and the potential for manipulation.

Main themes

• self-citation
• scientific credibility
• citation manipulation
• academic integrity
• research ethics

What commenters say

• Excessive self-citation can be seen as a form of academic spam, undermining the credibility of research and the scientific community.
• Some researchers may need to self-cite due to working in niche fields with limited existing research, but this does not justify excessive self-citation.
• The purpose of citation metrics is to measure intellectual influence, and self-citation can distort this measurement, leading to inaccurate assessments of a researcher's impact.
• Challenging conventional wisdom and exploring unconventional ideas is essential for scientific progress, but this should be done in a way that is transparent, rigorous, and open to criticism and validation.
• There are examples of scientists who were ridiculed for their ideas but later vindicated, highlighting the importance of perseverance and open-mindedness in scientific inquiry.
• The pressure to publish and secure funding can lead researchers to prioritize popular topics over niche areas, potentially stifling innovation and progress in underexplored fields.
• Self-citation can be a legitimate practice when used sparingly and in context, but excessive self-citation can be seen as a sign of a lack of intellectual rigor or a attempt to manipulate citation metrics.