撤销论文对所在期刊的影响研究--基于期刊引证指标的定量分析

Impact on the journal from its retracted publications and retracting behaviors:Based on the quantitative analysis of journal citation index

【目的】从撤销论文本体和撤销论文行为两个方面,定量测度撤销论文对所在期刊的影响。【方法】在通过多个数据来源构建的撤销论文数据库中,遴选出撤销论文数量较多的99种期刊作为分析样本。基于论文被引频次对期刊影响因子的贡献值,揭示单篇撤销论文对所在期刊的影响。以期刊在特定年份的撤销论文数量为解释变量,以期刊在该年后的影响力变化值为被解释变量,测量撤销论文行为对所在期刊的影响。【结果】大多数撤销论文对所在期刊并没有造成重要的影响。半数以上的撤销论文对期刊的影响值低于所在期刊论文的平均影响值。但撤销论文对不同组别期刊的影响有所差异。撤销论文行为在总体层面对所在期刊也没有显著影响,但是单年撤销论文数量过多尤其是大规模、集中式的撤稿,会明显降低期刊的学术影响力。【结论】期刊可以完善内控机制,通过提高同行评审质量,过滤掉更多的有问题论文。大多数期刊不应也不必担心撤稿可能带来的负面影响而放宽对有问题论文的处理,同时避免大规模的撤销事件出现。管理部门应为期刊质量提升尤其评审过程的完善提供支持,对有问题的期刊实施预警。

[Purposes] This paper quantitatively measures the impact of retracted papers on the journals from two aspects of retracted publications and retracting behaviors.[Methods] Based on the database of retracted publications from various data sources,99 journals with no less than 10 retracted publications were selected as research samples.The influence of a single retracted publication on the journal is revealed based on the contributions of citation frequencies to the journal impact factor.While the impact of retracting behaviors on the journals is measured by the number of retracted publications and impact change value of journal.The former is the number of retracted publications in a given year as the independent variable,and the latter is the changing value of impact factor after that year as the dependent variable.[Findings] Most of retracted publications do not have a significant impact on their journals.The impact value of more than half retracted publications is lower than the average impact value of the papers in their journals.However,the impact of retracted publications on the journals is slightly different among different groups of journals.Retracting behavior has no significant effect on the journals at the overall level.But too many retractions in a single year,especially large-scale retractions,will significantly reduce the academic impact of journals.[Conclusions] Journals can filter out more problematic papers by improving the internal control mechanism and enhancing the quality of peer review.Most journals should not and need not relax treatment to the problematic papers because of the possible negative consequences of retraction.At the same time,journals should avoid the occurrence of large-scale retractions.Administrative departments should provide support for the improvement of journal quality,especially in the aspect of reviewing process,and give early warning to the problematic journals.