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This is a terrible idea. Unless the process can clearly discriminate innocent errors from malicious ones, it will send a chill through the publishing process. W
by glitchc 2y ago
This is a terrible idea. Unless the process can clearly discriminate innocent errors from malicious ones, it will send a chill through the publishing process. We don't want to pillory authors for making an honest mistake, it would kill the open dissemination aspect of science.
An academic paper is not the final word on any subject. Papers are always a work in progress, our best understanding of the subject matter. Later work is allowed/encouraged to question, rebut and contradict findings. It's all part of the academic process. It doesn't always work this way because of politics, appeal to authority, credentialism and a whole host of other issues. The system is definitely flawed, but this "solution" would make things a whole lot worse.
- azan_ 2y agoPlease note that this initiative does not support pillorying authors. Pointing out errors increases quality of research, and as a scientist your most important guiding principle should be attempting to find the truth. The only people who do not benefit from finding errors in their work are the ones which have wrong incentives or are aware of their mistakes/malicious errors, yet for some reason do not want to acknowledge/fix them.
- glitchc 2y agoIncentivizing looking for errors will not improve the quality of science. Rather individuals will use this power to take down articles they disagree with. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.