In today’s scientific culture, there is often a strong emphasis on the prestige of the journals in which research is published rather than the quality of the science itself. Researchers frequently strive to publish in high-impact factor journals to gain personal benefits such as job opportunities and funding. However, this focus on journal titles can shape the type of research that is conducted and published.
To address this issue, some researchers, including Adrian Barnett, a researcher in health and medicine at the Queensland University of Technology, have started to remove journal names from their CVs. Instead of listing the journal where a paper was published, researchers are now highlighting the titles of their publications. This simple change allows individuals to focus on the content of the research rather than where it was published.
While some may argue that removing journal names could lead to unscrupulous academics publishing in predatory journals to boost their CVs, there are ways to mitigate this risk. For instance, promotion and hiring committees can be trained to spot flawed science and assess the quality of research based on the content rather than the journal name.
By shifting the focus from journal titles to research quality, researchers hope to create a more equitable and merit-based system for evaluating scientific contributions. This change not only benefits established researchers like Barnett but also has the potential to impact early-career scientists positively. Normalizing this practice and championing it among senior colleagues could help early-career researchers feel more comfortable making this change.
Ultimately, judging researchers based on the content of their work rather than the journals in which it is published can lead to a more comprehensive and fair evaluation process. This shift in academic culture could encourage deeper engagement with research and recognition of the complexity and value of scientific contributions beyond simple metrics like impact factors and citations.
