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2024/09/02 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia | Etxebeste Aduriz, Egoitz - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
In these times of post-truth, it is increasingly difficult to distinguish between news and scientific-technological articles that explain data and real consequences from those with false contents. For example, a study published in the journal Scientometrics reveals that the percentage of rejected articles has increased four times more between 2000 and 2021. In total, thousands of people have been withdrawn, of which only 16% have been by involuntary error from their authors. Most, 67%, have been rejected for the poor behavior of researchers, often for the adaptation of images and plagiarism, but in recent years the lack of reliability of data is becoming the main cause.
To this must be added a new trend: As reported in Science, expressions of uncertainty are disappearing from scientific articles. Specifically, this same journal has analyzed the studies published between 1997 and 2021, observing that verbs and terms related to uncertainty have decreased almost 60% in this period of 25 years. Conversely, “unprecedented” and such expressions have increased. This, of course, does not mean that current research is more excellent than previous research, but that expectacularization and the pompous style have also reached science and scientific articles.
All this hinders a fundamental task of those who work in scientific communication: the screening work. Therefore, more than before, it is necessary to be cautious and to have a very sharp critical spirit. At Elhuyar, we are also fortunate, as we count on the collaboration of the closest network of researchers to solve the doubts and ensure that we publish reliable information. In the future we will also have their need, and we will therefore continue to strengthen relations and to work on trust, which will give us credibility in these noisy and confused times.
