A new study reveals that fake research can easily get published to online journals for a fee. About 61 percent of the online journals just need a payment of a few hundred dollars then you will immediately see your fake research online.
John Bohannon, a contributor to the Science journal, sent fake research documents to find out whether these online journals would accept it. He submitted it to around 305 online journals and over 50 percent of them took in the fake article.
The shady journals don't bother to check thoroughly the article, its content and methods. Bohannon had employed the help of a Harvard research team to make sure that the fake study would look scientific but full of foolish information.
The article was about a newly discovered chemical that could treat cancer. The supposedly extracted substance from lichen could kill cancer at the cellular level. The team also infused the article with fake information such as fictions author coming from a non-existent medical institute in Asmara.
A legitimate health journal would verify on the author and sources. Also, they will ask on the specifics of the test such as were the cancer cells healthy or on its way to die by itself? How about the effect of the substance to other cells, is it deadly too?
Although the article was obviously a fake, if only the online journals had bothered to look closely, around 157 of them accepted it but requires fees as much as $ 3,100. Rejections were received also but it seems only a mere 98 of these online publishers are professional and trustworthy.
"This sting operation reveals the contours of an emerging Wild West in academic publishing," Bohannon said. He discovered that some scientists, with the desire to have their work published in journals, are willing to give cash just to reach their goals of getting promotions. And a lot of online journals eager to make money out of them.
The impact of such atrocity is immeasurable. The health professionals, patients, the public and even the government have a huge stake in how trustworthy the health sciences are.
Most of the time, these shady journals seem legitimate references to the reader. Their names such as American Journal of Polymer Science are quite similar to respected mainline journals. Shady online journals are not easy to recognize. What's worse, how to find their creators and make them accountable for such atrocious activities is almost impossible.
The study was published in the Oct. 3 issue of the journal Science.
