NSC杂志撤销论文引用异常增加现象辨析与治理建议

Analysis of the abnormal increase in cited frequency of retracted papers in NSC and suggestions for governance

【目的】NSC杂志(Nature杂志、Science杂志和Cell杂志的统称)从创刊至今累计撤销的297篇论文后续被引频次不降反升,说明被撤销论文可能仍有一定价值,对这一现象加以辨析可为治理学术不端提供新的参考。【方法】运用科学计量学方法,分析NSC杂志撤销论文的年度分布情况及趋势、论文撤销后被引频次继续增加的基本情况,并在研究发现的基础上展开相关讨论。【结果】NSC杂志的总撤稿量呈动态上升趋势,Science杂志上论文被撤销后的总被引频次最高,甚至有多篇论文被反复撤销,绝大多数被撤销论文的引用都是正面引用。【结论】被撤销论文被引频次不降反升并非异常,论文被撤销的缘由各异,其关注问题多数价值犹存,有些甚至可直接引发新的研究创新。被撤销论文学术价值不能一概忽视,而应加以合理利用。

[Purposes] The fact that the cited frequency of 297 papers retracted from NSC(short for Nature, Science, and Cell) since the inception has increased can provide a perspective on the value of retracted papers and a reference for scientific journals and competent department of scientific research management to control academic misconducts. [Methods] With scientometric methods, we analyzed the annual distribution and trend of retracted papers from NSC and the increased cited frequency after retraction and discussed the phenomenon. [Findings] The total number of retracted manuscripts from NSC has been on the rise. Science has seen the highest total cites of papers after withdrawal and repeatedly retracted multiple papers. Most of the citing papers express a positive attitude to the points of the retracted papers. [Conclusions] The rise of the cited frequency of retracted papers is not groundless, and the reasons for the retractions are diverse. Most of the findings in the retracted papers are valuable, and some even spur research innovations. Therefore, the academic value of retracted papers should be evaluated objectively.