scholarly journals ‘Nepotistic journals’: a survey of biomedical journals

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Scanff ◽  
Florian Naudet ◽  
Ioana Cristea ◽  
David Moher ◽  
Dorothy V M Bishop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Random Sample ◽  
Gini Index ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Prolific Author ◽  
Editorial Bias ◽  
Biomedical Journals ◽  
Disproportionate Number ◽  
Prolific Authors

AbstractContextConvergent analyses in different disciplines support the use of the Percentage of Papers by the Most Prolific author (PPMP) as a red flag to identify journals that can be suspected of questionable editorial practices. We examined whether this index, complemented by the Gini index, could be useful for identifying cases of potential editorial bias, using a large sample of biomedical journals.MethodsWe extracted metadata for all biomedical journals referenced in the National Library of Medicine, with any attributed Broad Subject Terms, and at least 50 authored (i.e. by at least one author) articles between 2015 and 2019, identifying the most prolific author (i.e. the person who signed the most papers in each particular journal). We calculated the PPMP and the 2015-2019 Gini index for the distribution of articles across authors. When the relevant information was reported, we also computed the median publication lag (time between submission and acceptance) for articles authored by any of the most prolific authors and that for articles not authored by prolific authors. For outlier journals, defined as a PPMP or Gini index above the 95th percentile of their respective distributions, a random sample of 100 journals was selected and described in relation to status on the editorial board for the most prolific author.Results5 468 journals that published 4 986 335 papers between 2015 and 2019 were analysed. The PPMP 95th percentile was 10.6% (median 2.9%). The Gini index 95th percentile was 0.355 (median 0.183). Correlation between the two indices was 0.35 (95CI 0.33 to 0.37). Information on publication lag was available for 2 743 journals. We found that 277 journals (10.2%) had a median time lag to publication for articles by the most prolific author(s) that was shorter than 3 weeks, versus 51 (1.9%) journals with articles not authored by prolific author(s). Among the random sample of outlier journals, 98 provided information about their editorial board. Among these 98, the most prolific author was part of the editorial board in 60 cases (61%), among whom 25 (26% of the 98) were editors-in-chief.DiscussionIn most journals publications are distributed across a large number of authors. Our results reveal a subset of journals where a few authors, often members of the editorial board, were responsible for a disproportionate number of publications. The papers by these authors were more likely to be accepted for publication within 3 weeks of their submission. To enhance trust in their practices, journals need to be transparent about their editorial and peer review practices.

scholarly journals A survey of biomedical journals to detect editorial bias and nepotistic behavior

PLoS Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. e3001133
Author(s):  
Alexandre Scanff ◽  
Florian Naudet ◽  
Ioana A. Cristea ◽  
David Moher ◽  
Dorothy V. M. Bishop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gini Index ◽  
Prolific Author ◽  
Editorial Bias ◽  
Biomedical Journals ◽  
Disproportionate Number ◽  
Number Of Publications ◽  
Predatory Journal ◽  
Index Level ◽  
Prolific Authors

Alongside the growing concerns regarding predatory journal growth, other questionable editorial practices have gained visibility recently. Among them, we explored the usefulness of the Percentage of Papers by the Most Prolific author (PPMP) and the Gini index (level of inequality in the distribution of authorship among authors) as tools to identify journals that may show favoritism in accepting articles by specific authors. We examined whether the PPMP, complemented by the Gini index, could be useful for identifying cases of potential editorial bias, using all articles in a sample of 5,468 biomedical journals indexed in the National Library of Medicine. For articles published between 2015 and 2019, the median PPMP was 2.9%, and 5% of journal exhibited a PPMP of 10.6% or more. Among the journals with the highest PPMP or Gini index values, where a few authors were responsible for a disproportionate number of publications, a random sample was manually examined, revealing that the most prolific author was part of the editorial board in 60 cases (61%). The papers by the most prolific authors were more likely to be accepted for publication within 3 weeks of their submission. Results of analysis on a subset of articles, excluding nonresearch articles, were consistent with those of the principal analysis. In most journals, publications are distributed across a large number of authors. Our results reveal a subset of journals where a few authors, often members of the editorial board, were responsible for a disproportionate number of publications. To enhance trust in their practices, journals need to be transparent about their editorial and peer review practices.

The Demand for, and Avoidance of, Information

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell Golman ◽  
George Loewenstein ◽  
Andras Molnar ◽  
Silvia Saccardo
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Behavioral Theory ◽  
Bad News ◽  
Good News ◽  
Focus Attention ◽  
New Information ◽  
Attention Demand ◽  
Aid Decision

Management scientists recognize that decision making depends on the information people have but lack a unified behavioral theory of the demand for (and avoidance of) information. Drawing on an existing theoretical framework in which utility depends on beliefs and the attention paid to them, we develop and test a theory of the demand for information encompassing instrumental considerations, curiosity, and desire to direct attention to beliefs one feels good about. We decompose an individual’s demand for information into the desire to refine beliefs, holding attention constant, and the desire to focus attention on anticipated beliefs, holding these beliefs constant. Because the utility of resolving uncertainty (i.e., refining beliefs) depends on the attention paid to it and more important or salient questions capture more attention, demand for information depends on the importance and salience of the question(s) it addresses. In addition, because getting new information focuses attention on one’s beliefs and people want to savor good news and ignore bad news, the desire to obtain or avoid information depends on the valence (i.e., goodness or badness) of anticipated beliefs. Five experiments (n = 2,361) test and find support for these hypotheses, looking at neutrally valenced as well as ego-relevant information. People are indeed more inclined to acquire information (a) when it feels more important, even if it cannot aid decision making (Experiments 1A and 2A); (b) when a question is more salient, manipulated through time lag (Experiments 1B and 2B); and (c) when anticipated beliefs have higher valence (Experiment 2C). This paper was accepted by Yan Chen, behavioral economics and decision analysis.

scholarly journals Declaraciones del Comité Internacional de Directores de Revistas Médicas anexas a las normas de Vancouver

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 119
Author(s):  
International Committee Of Medical Journal Editors
Keyword(s):  
Medical Journal ◽  
International Committee ◽  
Popular Media ◽  
Conflicts Of Interests ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
Journal Editors ◽  
Biomedical Journals ◽  
Dissemination Of Research ◽  
Definition Of

These statements, which are published by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors in conjunction with the Vancouver standards, cover sorne of the legal, ethical, and practical aspects of the publication of research papers, and of the comments generated by them, in biomedical journals. Pollowing a definition of what constitutes a peer-reviewed journal, the roles of journal owners and editors are described, along with those of members of an editorial board, and procedural norms are set forth in connection with conflicts of interests, retractions or corrections, fraud, and breaches of confidentiality. Arnong the last topics explored are the problems involved in the dissemination of research results by the popular media, the handling of advertising within the journal, and the simultaneous acceptance of manuscripts whose authors have arrived at opposite conclusions regarding the results of a particular study.

scholarly journals RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY OF PANDIT DEENDAYAL PETROLEUM UNIVERSITY AT GANDHINAGAR DURING 2008-2019: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY

2020 ◽  
pp. 167-180
Author(s):  
Priyanki Vyas ◽  
Sandip Pathak ◽  
Mahendra Patel
Keyword(s):  
Conference Proceedings ◽  
Research Productivity ◽  
Research Output ◽  
Research Performance ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Prolific Author ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Research Publications ◽  
Number Of Publications ◽  
Prolific Authors

This study endeavours to embrace a bibliometric analysis of the research publications of Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) from 2008-2019. It is in this context that the present study aims to audit the exploration execution the research performance of PDPU based on the papers published in journals that have indexed in Scopus for as far back as eleven years. The total number of 931 publications has retrieved from the Scopus database. Amongst them, 64.44 % are research articles published in scholarly journals and 28.89 % in Conference proceedings. The paper also analyzed the publication trend of Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University and found that from 2008 onwards there was a steady increase in the number of publications. The authors attempt to identify the current trends in research output by PDPU, which includes the most prolific authors, institutional collaborative works, research productivity in terms of publications, highest citations papers, most preferred publications, etc.… The research publications was found highest numbers of publications in the year 2019. Findings of this study also reveal that the “AIP Conference Proceedings” is the most preferred journal, and Mukhopadhyay, I, is the most prolific author and has made the highest number of publications.

scholarly journals Spatial modeling of dengue and socio-environmental indicators in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 591-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Rodrigues de Araujo Teixeira ◽  
Oswaldo Gonçalves Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Gini Index ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Dengue Transmission ◽  
Direct Association ◽  
Conditional Autoregressive ◽  
Dengue Control

This study analyzed the spatial distribution of dengue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2006, and associations between the incidence per 100,000 inhabitants and socio-environmental variables. The study analyzed reported dengue cases among the city's inhabitants, rainfall, Breteau index (for Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus), Gini index, and social development index. We conducted mapping and used the global Moran index to measure the indicators' spatial autocorrelation, which was positive for all variables. The generalized linear model showed a direct association between dengue incidence and rainfall, one-month rainfall time lag, Gini index, and Breteau index for A. albopictus. The conditional autoregressive model (CAR) showed a direct association with rainfall for four months of the year, rain time lag in July, and Gini index in February. The results demonstrate the importance of socio-environmental variables in the dynamics of dengue transmission and the relevance for the development of dengue control strategies.

scholarly journals Improving the quality of GP referrals to the Croydon Assessment & Liaison Team

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S205-S205
Author(s):  
Gabriella Lewis ◽  
Lucia Chaplin ◽  
Gareth Knott ◽  
Alexandra Coull ◽  
Lamide Sobamowo
Keyword(s):  
Random Sample ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Referral Form ◽  
Patient Assessments ◽  
New Form ◽  
Intervention Uptake

AimsTo increase the percentage of GP referrals to the Croydon Assessment & Liaison (A&L) Team deemed to be of ‘good quality’. The A&L Team receives a large number of referrals daily from GPs, and it was identified that many of these referrals did not include important and relevant information, leading to delays in patient assessments.MethodA questionnaire was distributed to A&L MDT members to collect information about what information they consider important in a GP referral. The project team reviewed the results of the questionnaire, along with current policies and guidelines, to create a set of criteria by which to assess the quality of GP referrals, as there was no pre-existing gold standard available. A random sample of 6 GP referrals per week stratified by locality was collected and assessed against these criteria.Using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology change ideas were generated, and a GP referral form was identified as an important intervention to adopt. A previously-developed draft form was updated after a round of consultations with various stakeholders including Assessment & Liaison staff, GPs and the CCG. The new GP referral form was uploaded to the GP DSX electronic referrals platform and GP practices were also emailed directly to encourage them to use the new form.The proportion of GP referrals deemed to be of good quality was compared pre and post-intervention. Uptake of the new GP referral form was recorded as a process measure, and the length of time taken to discuss referrals at A&L daily referrals meetings as a counterbalance measure.ResultAt baseline 33% of GP referrals were deemed to be of good quality using the developed criteria. This improved to 58% after implementation of the new referral form in January 2021. There was poor overall uptake of the form, with only 32.5% of GP referrals utilising the new form so far, however of the referrals received on the new form 69% fulfilled the criteria for good quality. Comparison of length of discussion required for referrals with and without the new form showed no significant difference (7.7 and 7.6 minutes respectively).ConclusionImplementation of a standardised GP referral form was effective at increasing the proportion of referrals deemed to be of good quality. However, further PDSA cycles focused on improving uptake of the form will be required.

Fourteen Years of Event Management: A Bibliometric Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Praveen Ranjan Srivastava ◽  
Dheeraj Sharma ◽  
Rohtak Haryana
Keyword(s):  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Scaling Analysis ◽  
Event Management ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Continuous Growth ◽  
Number Of Publications ◽  
Prolific Authors ◽  
Emerging Topics ◽  
Cluster 2

Event Management is a well-established international journal in event, festival, and culture management, which published high-quality peer-reviewed research from the last 20 years. The current study represents a retrospective overview of the journal's publication journey over the previous 14 years from 2006-2020. This period was chosen due to the availability of data in Scopus. The number of publications and citations received by these publications globally has exhibited continuous growth, which signifies the journal's widespread presence. This paper also analyses the journal’s impact, its prominent topics, and its most prolific authors, including their affiliated institutions and countries. The multiple dimensionality scaling analysis classifies the publications of the journal into five broad clusters: namely Cluster 1 (“Event Management”), Cluster 2 (“Customer Satisfaction and Service Quality”), Cluster 3 (“Mega Events”), Cluster 4 (“Legacy Sports”) and Cluster 5 (“Economic feasibility”). The co-authorship networks among authors, institutions, countries, and topics unveil the collaboration structure among this journal's contributors. The results of the current study provide useful insights for the potential contributors and global audience of the journal and the editorial board of the journal in terms of emerging topics for research.

scholarly journals Fifty Years Research Output in Oral Submucous Fibrosis, A Bibliometric Analysis of Publications from 1967 to 2016

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (02) ◽  
pp. 470-478
Author(s):  
Seema Parmar ◽  
Anil Kumar Siwach ◽  
Ashwani Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Research Output ◽  
Oral Submucous Fibrosis ◽  
Prolific Author ◽  
Authorship Pattern ◽  
H Index ◽  
Citation Score ◽  
Submucous Fibrosis ◽  
Prolific Authors ◽  
Precancerous State ◽  
Central South

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a precancerous state which affects the oral cavity. The etiology of OSMF is due to various factors like chilies consumption, deficiency of nutrition, areca nut chewing habits, genetic susceptibility, altered salivary constituents, and autoimmunity and collagen disorders.  The present study is undertaken to find out the publication trends on OSMF during 1967-2016. The study mainly focus on year and decade wise research output, national and international collaborations, top journals for publications, most prolific authors, authorship pattern, citations pattern and highly cited papers on OSMF. The results indicate that highest growth rate of publications occurred between the years 1997-2006. India’s research share, citation score and h index was highest among all countries. Central South University, China topped the scene among all institutes. The maximum publications were two authored publications. CP Chiang of National Taiwan University was found to be the most prolific author.

scholarly journals Assessing the potential of integrating distribution and structure of permanent open-water wetlandscapes in reclamation design: a case study of Alberta, Canada

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer D. Ridge ◽  
Derek T. Robinson ◽  
Rebecca Rooney
Keyword(s):  
Random Sample ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Resource Extraction ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Natural Occurrence ◽  
Natural Region ◽  
Policy Objectives ◽  
Disproportionate Number ◽  
Ecological Functioning

AbstractWetlands are multi-functional systems that provide a disproportionate number of ecosystem services given the spatial extent they occupy both nationally and globally. The ecological functioning of these wetlands is dependent on the structure of the landscape, which poses unique challenges when reclaiming wetlands in areas where resource extraction is occurring. Resource extraction mega-projects require that entire wetlandscapes be reclaimed and often involve timelines that necessitate the consideration of climate projections to create self-sustaining, naturally appearing wetlandscapes that meet policy objectives. To understand wetlandscape structure and guide reclamation planning and closure permitting evaluation, a random sample of 13,676 1-km2 landscapes were subselected to identify 1684 permanent open-water wetlandscapes. A parsimonious set of landscape metrics were applied and compared across levels of anthropogenic disturbance and across natural regions (i.e., Grassland, Parkland and Boreal). Results demonstrated that permanent open-water wetlands are relatively rare (12.3% of our total random sample) and typically occupy less than 8% of wetlandscapes when present. The majority of wetlands in the study area are less permanent and more variable in nature than the permanent open water wetlandscapes created by megaproject reclamation, which has the potential to alter the distribution and size of open-water wetlands beyond their natural occurrence. Comparison across disturbance levels and natural regions yield statistical differences among landscape structure. General wetland landscapes representing a combination of disturbance level and natural region can be created for each metric to guide reclamation design and closure planning approval.

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