Hen scientists make important discoveries, both big and small,
they typically publish their findings in scientific journals for others
to read. This sharing of knowledge helps to advance science: it can, in turn, lead to more important discoveries.
But published
research papers can be retracted if there is an issue with their
accuracy or integrity. And in recent years, the number of retractions
has been rising sharply. For example, in 2023 more than 10,000
research papers were retracted globally. This marked a new record.
The huge number of retractions indicates a lot of government
research funding is being wasted. More importantly, the publication of so much flawed
research also misleads other researchers and undermines scientific integrity.
Fuelling
this troubling trend is a mentality known in academia as “publish
or perish” which has existed for decades. The publication of research
papers drives university rankings and career progression, yet the relentless pressure
to publish has contributed to an increase in fraudulent data. Unless this changes,
the entire research landscape may shift toward a less rigorous standard, hindering
vital progress in fields email data such as medicine, technology and climate science.
A ‘publish or perish’ environment
Universities and research institutes commonly use the
rate of publications as building bridges through science diplomacy: accelerating progress towards sustainable development a key indicator of research productivity and reputation.
The Times Higher Education Index, which ranks these
institutions, assigns 60% of its score to research, and publications are fundamental to this score.
Additionally, publications are closely tied to individual career advancement. They influence decisions on tenure, promotions and securing funding.
These factors create a “publish or perish” environment, a term loan data first coined in 1942 by sociologist Logan Wilson.
A growing trend
Recent evidence indicates the constant pressure to generate data and publish papers may be affecting the quality of research and fuelling retractions of research papers.
Retraction Watch is one of the largest databases to monitor scientific retractions. Launched in 2010, it reveals a growing trend in the number of publications being retracted.
Over the past
20 years, scientific research has significantly improved our quality of life. Career scientists must shoulder the responsibility of ensuring researchers uphold the values of truth and integrity that are fundamental to our profession. Protecting the integrity of our work is foremost to our mission, and we must remain vigilant in safeguarding these principles.