Retraction due to fake peer review in China:Analysis and preventive measures
[Purposes]This study aims to analyze the trend and formation of retracted papers for fake peer review(FPR)in China,and explore preventive measures.[Methods]Research papers(issued from 2017 to 2021)by Chinese writers on the Retraction Watch website were taken to collect the papers retracted for FPR before August 31,2022.The global proportion,annual trend,and merged reasons for the retractions in China were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 7.0 software to infer the retraction formation process,in order to propose preventive measures.[Findings]From 2017 to 2021,a total of 635 research papers by Chinese authors were retracted due to FPR,accounting for 52.0%of global research papers retracted due to FPR during the same period.The number of retracted research papers in 2020 and 2021(95 and 425 respectively)increased significantly compared to that during 2017-2019(32-43).The main merged reasons for retraction include rogue editors(65.2%),randomly generated content(57.3%),and paper mills(16.5%).Statistical analysis suggests a significant correlation between rogue editors and randomly generated contents(r=0.998,P<0.001),and both are correlated with the increasing trend of FPR retraction in China(r=0.991,P<0.001;r>0.999,P<0.001).[Conclusions]Machine-written works manipulated by rogue editors for mass publishing are the primary formation approach to FPR retraction in China,leading to escalated retraction in recent years.The products from paper mills serve as a secondary approach to form FPR retraction.To prevent such retraction from the source and path elements,standardizing the writing of artificial intelligence machines,curbing paper mills,and issuing special warnings for journals with management loopholes are feasible measures.
Retraction due to fake peer reviewRogue editorRandomly generated contentAcademic misconductManagement strategy
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