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• Thread: 148 Goods vs 47 No Goods

1. Economist
   e3fb
   

   Someone asked Off Topic this question but I fear it's received little attention because the sub-forum wasn't the right one. The following answer can help you avoid an increasingly common form of misconduct:

   A paper mill is used as an analogy with a factory where paper is made. In the sciences, scientific papers can be produced in large quantities dividing the labor needed to produce such a work by the number of co-authors you collaborate with. Reducing the effort you put in will increase your production but at the expense of reducing the merit you can claim for your papers. There is also evidence that the higher the number of co-authors, the lower the quality of papers.

   The ONLY legitimate reason for co-authorship is to increase the probability of scientific findings, NOT to increase the number of papers published.

   An extreme case is this one in the UK:

   Mark Grffths: the professor who publishes a paper every two days
   https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/mark-griffiths-professor-who-publishes-paper-every-two-days

   And in continental Europe:

   IPAG (France), playing by the rules or tampering with peer-review?
   https://www.econjobrumors.com/topic/ipag-france-playing-by-the-rules-or-tampering-with-peer-review

   2 years ago # QUOTE 16 Volod 2 Vlad !

2. Economist
   cd8b
   

   https://publicationethics.org/publishing-manipulation-paper-mills

   2 years ago # QUOTE 1 Volod 0 Vlad !

3. Economist
   e3fb
   

   https://publicationethics.org/publishing-manipulation-paper-mills

   The problem with COPE's (Committee on Publication Ethics) definition of paper mills is that it only covers the offer of papers to academics at a profit, a sort of company offering such service. I wonder how these phantom companies would reach out to potential clients. I don't say they don't exist but they would be very rare.

   More commonly, paper mills are large networks of academics who agree to cooperate to maximize research output quantity. They don't offer such a service to outsiders at a profit but these academics often profit from the publication bonuses that they receive in their own institutions. This is why they may be motivated to maximize research quantity in the first place.

   2 years ago # QUOTE 10 Volod 0 Vlad !

4. Economist
   b80b
   

   I have a question: how do you say paper mill in Chinese?

   2 years ago # QUOTE 3 Volod 2 Vlad !

5. Economist
   8f19
   

   I have a question: how do you say paper mill in Chinese?

   Moooku

   2 years ago # QUOTE 0 Volod 1 Vlad !

6. Economist
   e3fb
   

   I don't know, but Americans master the trick as few.

   I have a question: how do you say paper mill in Chinese?

   2 years ago # QUOTE 3 Volod 1 Vlad !

7. Economist
   084d
   

   AP here. i'm always wondering what the incentives are that get big shots to submit and publish crappy papers.

   2 years ago # QUOTE 4 Volod 1 Vlad !

8. Economist
   6d99
   

   not only submitting, but also promoting BS

   AP here. i'm always wondering what the incentives are that get big shots to submit and publish crappy papers.

   2 years ago # QUOTE 0 Volod 1 Vlad !

9. Economist
   e3fb
   

   Big bonuses for publications.

   AP here. i'm always wondering what the incentives are that get big shots to submit and publish crappy papers.

   2 years ago # QUOTE 2 Volod 0 Vlad !

10. Economist
    a90a
    

    Some of the "big names" are in the middle of so-called paper mills?
    - Why should they? You cannot win a Nobel as a minion.
    - Do they have (academic) debts?
    - Networks are increasingly important, but if networks become powerful, our scientifically diverse world becomes subject to the interest of very few leaders (like in the "real" economy)

    I really cannot imagine why you should become a member of a paper mill instead of creating your own agenda and do the work, which you are intrinsically motivated in. However, I am tenured and I am strictly convinced that "fundamental/basic science" >>> "careerist". I am, however, aware that actually few think alike

    2 years ago # QUOTE 2 Volod 2 Vlad !

11. Economist
    7002
    

    You see some senior or relatively senior people taking on a position at a second uni somewhere, essentially tasked with increasing production of papers to lift that place locally vs peers. So while it doesn't necessarily advance their career in their main institution (although it might) it is leveraging their position to get more publications for the paying additional institution.

    They are essentially managers and are receiving an extra salary for their role in increasing output.

    2 years ago # QUOTE 4 Volod 0 Vlad !

12. Economist
    a90a
    

    thank you

    You see some senior or relatively senior people taking on a position at a second uni somewhere, essentially tasked with increasing production of papers to lift that place locally vs peers. So while it doesn't necessarily advance their career in their main institution (although it might) it is leveraging their position to get more publications for the paying additional institution.
    They are essentially managers and are receiving an extra salary for their role in increasing output.

    2 years ago # QUOTE 0 Volod 0 Vlad !

13. Economist
    9174
    

    paper mills are totally fine. academics are no saints but respond to incentives just like everybody else. change the incentives and people will act accordingly.

    2 years ago # QUOTE 4 Volod 6 Vlad !

14. Economist
    a90a
    

    Totally agree - but what about integrity? The CrediT system (https://www.elsevier.com/authors/policies-and-guidelines/credit-author-statement) does not solve the problems because nobody will answer correctly when non-tenured. In doubt, the "supervisor" gets the most credit and in turn, the main contributor can expect an excellent recommendation letter... Incentives are clearly problematic, but also the power of some important gate-keepers

    paper mills are totally fine. academics are no saints but respond to incentives just like everybody else. change the incentives and people will act accordingly.

    2 years ago # QUOTE 5 Volod 0 Vlad !

15. Economist
    d625
    

    LC is an expert on this topic.

    1 year ago # QUOTE 0 Volod 0 Vlad !

16. Economist
    9b57
    

    paper mills are totally fine. academics are no saints but respond to incentives just like everybody else. change the incentives and people will act accordingly.

    This is so economist. Who are to improve incentives if not us?

    1 year ago # QUOTE 5 Volod 1 Vlad !

17. Economist
    97f9
    

    LC?

    LC is an expert on this topic.

    1 year ago # QUOTE 0 Volod 0 Vlad !

18. Economist
    edad
    

    Many people just want status.

    Some of the "big names" are in the middle of so-called paper mills?
    - Why should they? You cannot win a Nobel as a minion.
    - Do they have (academic) debts?
    - Networks are increasingly important, but if networks become powerful, our scientifically diverse world becomes subject to the interest of very few leaders (like in the "real" economy)
    I really cannot imagine why you should become a member of a paper mill instead of creating your own agenda and do the work, which you are intrinsically motivated in. However, I am tenured and I am strictly convinced that "fundamental/basic science" >>> "careerist". I am, however, aware that actually few think alike

    1 year ago # QUOTE 1 Volod 1 Vlad !

19. Economist
    df9a
    

    Yes, but there is also low teaching and invitations to free fancy trips in exotic cities where the audience will stroke your ego.

    1 year ago # QUOTE 1 Volod 1 Vlad !

20. Economist
    e3fb
    

    Yes, but there is also low teaching and invitations to free fancy trips in exotic cities where the audience will stroke your ego.

    In fact, these fraudsters are often embarrassed by the auience. They can't stand up to an inquisitive audience who spot the flaws in their work. But they don't care, the trip was already paid for.

    1 year ago # QUOTE 2 Volod 1 Vlad !

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