Matt HodgkinsonMay 15, 2025

Being a "Highly Cited Researcher" has gone from a sign of having impact as a researcher to a potential indicator of misconduct.

"Manipulations have been so obvious and large that, in 2024, over 2,000 researchers were removed from a HCR list containing some 6,600 names." - Lauranne Chaignon

https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2025/05/13/is-the-list-of-highly-cited-researchers-losing-credibility/

#ResearchImpact #HighlyCitedResearchers #Bibliometrics #Scientometrics #ResearchAssessment #Citations #CitationManipulation #CitationScience #ScientificMisconduct #ImpactOfSocialSciences

Is the list of Highly Cited Researchers losing credibility? - Impact of Social Sciences

For over two decades, the Highly Cited Researchers list has spotlighted global scientific influence. But behind its annual release lies a shifting story, which includes evolving methods, changing ownership and growing misuse. Lauranne Chaignon traces the list’s transformation from a research tool to a high-stakes benchmark, raising questions about its continued role in academic evaluation.

Impact of Social Sciences - Maximizing the impact of academic research
Show threadMatt HodgkinsonNov 26, 2022

@ct_bergstrom
Citation stacking, like 50 papers cited in the first paragraph, can also be a sign of citation manipulation.

When you see [1-50], it's possible the authors may be boosting their own work or that of connected researchers/journals, or they may be part of a citation ring, or - in a published article - they may have been subject to coercive citation by a reviewer or editor.
#PublicationEthics #Bibliometrics #Citations #CitationScience #CitationBias #ScholComm