tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post359434498328448203..comments2024-03-25T02:33:41.590-05:00Comments on FemaleScienceProfessor: That's Not What I MeantFemale Science Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-71785295742576998612012-06-11T18:57:19.775-05:002012-06-11T18:57:19.775-05:00Kind of the opposite happened to me recently. I wa...Kind of the opposite happened to me recently. I was editing a manuscript that was exactly in my field of expertise. The authors (especially the first author) did not come from the same field of expertise. It was an interdisciplinary study but with a weeker representation in one discipline (mine). When editing the manuscript I found a strange set of citations that one would not use if you really know this area. You know what I mean? For some statements an expert would cite certain typical literature. But if you see that the authors used "unusal" citations, you realize that they probably searched the databases for keywords and cited what showed up first - but what was not necessarily the original work or the most popular work in this field. So in this case I found that the auhors left out several important literature -including my own. So I adviced them to read this missing literature (including my own) and consider citing them, because I thought if they don't they will probably not be taken seriously by experts in this field. I felt weared adding my own paper to this list, so I told the authors that I am not asking for his, because I want to increase my h-factor, but because I really thought that this work was missing. I still wonder if it was he right thing to do, but if I was not me, I would probably have said the same.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-80537622655504172732012-05-20T12:36:32.289-05:002012-05-20T12:36:32.289-05:00I haven't done this myself - I rely on the lit...I haven't done this myself - I rely on the literature that I think is relevent - but there have been several times when *editors* have insisted that I cite their stuff. While in some cases I haven't been comfortable with doing this, I felt incredible pressure to include the citations (and, in all but one case, complied).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-73643610209554166232012-05-17T13:24:20.237-05:002012-05-17T13:24:20.237-05:00I have seen a case that the editor has told the au...I have seen a case that the editor has told the authors that he can accept the paper, but the authors should cite a few(!) of his group's papers. Side info: the venue is very respected, the best in its field. Such unethical editors may be the reason why the authors tend to cite more and more the editor's papers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-65230105869907992962012-05-12T15:00:00.461-05:002012-05-12T15:00:00.461-05:00This is somewhat related-within the last couple of...This is somewhat related-within the last couple of weeks I received a survey from someone trying to determine how common (and at what journals) the following practice happens: an editor requires an author to add citations for articles from that journal (not necessarily authored by the editor, just to increase the impact factor of their journal, i guess) before acceptance for publication. That hasn't happened to me either, but it is another odd practice.plasmaphysicsmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07593271166313225547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-63917315452357730962012-05-12T13:28:10.291-05:002012-05-12T13:28:10.291-05:00No. But I have made a point of citing papers publ...No. But I have made a point of citing papers published in the journal I'm submitting too, just to help make a subtle case that I've chosen the correct venue. However, I can totally see some of my colleagues doing this purely for the sake of brown-nosing...especially if the editor is a bigshot in the field.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-68560474880562008702012-05-10T14:30:03.193-05:002012-05-10T14:30:03.193-05:00I once suggested that a paper of mine be removed f...I once suggested that a paper of mine be removed from a reference list because it wasn't relevant. The authors removed it. I wonder if they thought I was trying to drive down someone's citations?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-1681453261573108982012-05-10T12:04:15.620-05:002012-05-10T12:04:15.620-05:00I think authors are becoming increasingly more eag...I think authors are becoming increasingly more eager to please as the struggle to get into some journals is as much of a tug-of-war to see who has the longer stamina than a scientific discourse.<br /><br />Never cited an editor because they never asked, but if I think it will only marginally improve my chances to be accepted I'll happily cite referees if they so request. <br />I hate what has become of me...Reneenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-71550736325429511732012-05-10T11:00:09.358-05:002012-05-10T11:00:09.358-05:00No, but i was once in the awkward editorial positi...No, but i was once in the awkward editorial position of having to note that my own work needed to be cited.<br /><br />i tried to finesse this by offering the authors a couple strategies for a successful revision, one of which involved my work (along with that of my collaborators), and one which drew on different research traditions. But it was truly awkward.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-66485449642448218212012-05-09T19:01:39.016-05:002012-05-09T19:01:39.016-05:00As a referee, I often suggest papers that the auth...As a referee, I often suggest papers that the authors should cite. I try very hard to avoid suggesting a paper that I am a coauthor on, unless it is enormously relevant. I'd rather not have the authors guess who I am! Nor am I that much in need of citations.<br /><br />Once an editor asked me to referee a paper and also to suggest other referees. I strongly suggested a particular person Dr. X who I knew would be very appropriate. Later, upon re-review I got to read the reports from the other referees. I did indeed find one referee report suggesting that the authors should cite four papers by Dr. X. I do think they were relevant in this case, but it was still funny.Georgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-30712894725109869282012-05-09T16:59:32.796-05:002012-05-09T16:59:32.796-05:00I have never really cited the work of an editor (n...I have never really cited the work of an editor (nor has it occurred to me till today). When I submit a manuscript, I don't know who the managing editor will be anyway, and after I receive reviews I have never been asked by an editor to cite him/her. However, it has been hinted many times to me by a reviewer that I should cite what I presume are reviewer's papers, and I generally do if they are at all relevant.GMPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17872461021953583473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-30647114933070027152012-05-09T13:11:59.895-05:002012-05-09T13:11:59.895-05:00No
Plain and simple--never even thought about it
...No<br /><br />Plain and simple--never even thought about it<br /><br />Mark PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-68837587169307540742012-05-09T12:19:24.663-05:002012-05-09T12:19:24.663-05:00Only once has an editor insisted on having me cite...Only once has an editor insisted on having me cite his work in my paper. In that instance, I was able to slightly modify my statements so that the cite was relevant. But I did not cite his work exactly as instructed, which would have been inaccurate. My impression was that this editor viewed me as a competitor and would have used any refusal to comply as a reason to reject. My compromise seemed to appease. <br /><br />I could have said no and submitted elsewhere, but the paper had sailed through with glowing comments from reviewers and was going to require very minor revisions. Also, I may have encountered more hostile reviewers or editors at another journal. Seemed like the best choice given the situation.DrDoyennehttp://www.womeninwetlands.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-80635652811761129512012-05-09T12:08:11.488-05:002012-05-09T12:08:11.488-05:00I don't even think about who the editor is, bu...I don't even think about who the editor is, but in my field editors mostly just select the reviewers and act as a moderator for their responses.Morgan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09605746270741576772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-2813788196325403182012-05-09T09:18:08.201-05:002012-05-09T09:18:08.201-05:00I used to take some time to be sure to cite papers...I used to take some time to be sure to cite papers by relevant program committee members when submitting to highly-selective conferences (computer science: conferences are more visible than journals). I haven't quite done that so much recently.plamhttp://patricklam.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-35499925807209809412012-05-09T08:13:43.989-05:002012-05-09T08:13:43.989-05:00On several occasions I have actually had section e...On several occasions I have actually had section editors specifically suggest that I cite their work even though in the end it turned out really to be only tangentially related. If I was a savvy author, I would have guessed who would be assigned my paper and then just cited them ahead of time (again, even though their work was not overly relevant). So, in short, I think that you, FSP, are morally scrupulous about how you handle these things and many other editors are not and it serves novice authors well to know that that is a possible reality when they submit their papers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-83622573004240276612012-05-09T07:49:46.833-05:002012-05-09T07:49:46.833-05:00It bugs me when authors attribute some egotism/mal...It bugs me when authors attribute some egotism/maliciousness/stupidity to completely reasonable review comments. It happens a lot, though.<br /><br />There has been a lot of discussion in my field lately about the state and quality of peer reviewing, but none of it ever addresses the fact that many authors simply do not appreciate criticism or advice or are unable to take it at face value. And we now have so many venues for publication that most reasonable papers will eventually show up somewhere; it's very easy to feel that the work we do as reviewers is nothing more than a roadblock.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-89544150782011655022012-05-09T07:44:07.476-05:002012-05-09T07:44:07.476-05:00Heck no, I've never considered adding citation...Heck no, I've never considered adding citations to an editor's work. 98% of the time I am unaware of who the editor is, nor do I think they examine the references in my manuscripts. (The fact that you noticed this, for example, is surprising to me.)<br /><br />One pattern that I do fit, though, is when I'm doing a catch-up literature search I might think of an author and realize, oh yeah, I'll bet F. S. Professor has published in this area and I should look to see what else she has published. So often my references will suddenly expand by 3-5 papers from the same person.a physicistnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-38617704839477934622012-05-09T07:16:14.754-05:002012-05-09T07:16:14.754-05:00Yes, but because he was obviously the reviewer, he...Yes, but because he was obviously the reviewer, he had something of a case, but in the original paper it was strictly a matter of selecting between hundred of papers. In our interaction with the editor we explained that, yes Dr. X had done important stuff, but everyone in the field thinks they own it including us, and since the reviewer had a case, we thought it would be fine to mention it.<br /><br />The editor understood and on thinking about it, adding the additional references and a few words marginally improved the introduction in giving the reader a better overview.EliRabetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07957002964638398767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-38409080583365622032012-05-09T07:08:12.701-05:002012-05-09T07:08:12.701-05:00If the editor has relevant work that unintentional...If the editor has relevant work that unintentionally got omitted, then why not? If it's only tangentially related, then that seems a bit odd.<br /><br />Though I have had editors suggesting I cite their tangentially-related work. And I do. Because once I'm in the R&R stage I'm perfectly happy to collaborate with the editor and reviewers so long as the end product isn't embarrassing.nicoleandmaggiehttp://nicoleandmaggie.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-87819765375901618922012-05-09T06:01:10.949-05:002012-05-09T06:01:10.949-05:00I have! Reviewers were anonymous, but one reviewer...I have! Reviewers were anonymous, but one reviewer said essentially "you haven't given adequate consideration to the results in papers X and Y" which were by the same author and then proceeded to describe the methodology in these (very tangential) papers in detail. So we rolled our eyes and cited them.<br /><br />It may be that you aren't the problem, but that people have had experiences like mine and figure that's what the reviewer wants.Aletheahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056863610469196748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-75445671550346039242012-05-09T05:54:03.772-05:002012-05-09T05:54:03.772-05:00I'm siding with your colleague, just because o...I'm siding with your colleague, just because of a paper I'm currently writing. I'm sending it to a fairly generalist journal that nevertheless has developed a niche for itself in covering a particular topic. This journal has had three special issues in the last five years that relate to this topic in one way or another, and in my paper, I refer to all three of those special issues (the entire issue, not just a paper in it). It feels weird, because it could look like a brazen attempt to flatter the editor. But it's not. I've tried to justify eliminating at least one of those references, and I just can't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-43059134674700508532012-05-09T04:32:34.126-05:002012-05-09T04:32:34.126-05:00A similar thing happened to me yesterday. I got a ...A similar thing happened to me yesterday. I got a revised version from a paper I had been reviewing. <br /><br />One of my comments had been:<br /><br />"You seem to find xzy. Other people (A et al., B et al., C et al.) have found the opposite. Please make a comparison to their work and discuss."<br /><br />They write back: "We cannot do this comparison due to differences between our approach" (which are minor and which is really not a good excuse not to make the comparison.) However, they ware probably convinced I must be involved in study A, B or C, and so they included completely irrelevant and detailed discussion of this work in their introduction, where it really did not fit. <br /><br />I found this behaviour quite aggressive, and I also got an aggressive vibe from the behaviour you describe above... It seems to say: "ok, we'll cite you, and then you'll shut up, right?" It is quite offensive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-86788522183546983292012-05-09T01:48:47.069-05:002012-05-09T01:48:47.069-05:00Not quite the same thing, but there's a great ...Not quite the same thing, but there's a great piece of writing by a mathematician that contains the following advice:<br /><br />"Give Lavish Acknowledgments<br /><br />I have always felt miffed after reading a paper in which I felt I was not being given proper credit, and it is safe to conjecture that the same happens to everyone else. One day I tried an experiment. After writing a rather long paper, I began to draft a thorough bibliography. On the spur of the moment I decided to cite a few papers which had nothing whatsoever to do with the content of my paper to see what might happen.<br /><br />Somewhat to my surprise, I received letters from two of the authors whose papers I believed were irrelevant to my article. Both letters were written in an emotionally charged tone. Each of the authors warmly congratulated me for being the first to acknowledge their contribution to the field."<br /><br /><br />Full text of the article here: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~nbalacha/rota_ten_lessons.htmlMathTTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-27378534803923273232012-05-09T00:35:44.240-05:002012-05-09T00:35:44.240-05:00That has NEVER occurred to me! But in my field, E...That has NEVER occurred to me! But in my field, Editors almost never read the manuscripts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com