PEDIATRICS Vol. 77 No. 3 March 1986, pp. A74
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Student,
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Student,

THE WEAPONRY OF BIOMEDICAL JOURNALS

Student

[Biomedical] journals, especially those with large readerships and liberal budgets, have the power not only to select competing papers for publication but also to editorialize ("hype") their content. Whether, as [has been] suggested this practice influences the opinion of the readership and creates an image of outstanding science where none in reality exists is unclear, but it certainly helps authors promote their research. If journals use speedy publication as a weapon in the competition for fashionable research, they play on the vanity of scientists and distort the system of values. Not only can they decide what type of work will receive favored treatment, but they overburden expert reviewers by demanding more rapid reviews.