Over-Cited AI Articles: A Dilemma for Researchers

Le brief IA que les pros lisent chaque soir
Les 7 actus IA du jour, décryptées en 5 min. Gratuit.
Inclus dès l'inscription : notre sélection des meilleurs guides & comparatifs IA.
Choisis ton rythme
Gratuit · Pas de spam · Désabonnement en 1 clic
A Suspicious Increase in Citations
Last summer, Peter Degen, a postdoctoral researcher, faced an unusual situation. His postdoctoral supervisor informed him that one of his papers was being cited at an abnormally high frequency. Published in 2017, this paper focused on the accuracy of a specific statistical analysis applied to epidemiological data. Over the years, it had accumulated a respectable number of citations, but recently, it was being cited every few days, reaching hundreds of references.
An Investigation is Necessary
While other researchers might have rejoiced at such popularity, Degen's supervisor preferred to investigate the situation. The sudden and massive increase in citations seemed suspicious and warranted a thorough check to understand the reasons behind this phenomenon.
A Problem for the Scientific Community
This situation highlights a growing issue in the field of academic research. Citations are essential for assessing the relevance and impact of scientific work. However, when they are artificially inflated, it can distort the evaluation of research quality and have repercussions on the careers of the researchers involved. This phenomenon raises questions about the integrity of academic practices and the need for mechanisms to ensure the validity of citations.
Brief IA — L'actualité IA en français
L'essentiel de l'actualité de l'intelligence artificielle, décrypté et expliqué chaque jour.