Blog: Fake academic articles in Gender Studies

Opinion of the head of the Research and Study Group "Comparative Study of the Situation of Women and Men in Public Authorities" Olga Isupova, PhD about “exposure” of fake academic articles in the field of Gender Studies.

This publication opens new section of the Research and Study Group’s site and its direction of activity – formation and spread of Group members opinion about  events and facts in the world of Gender Studies and related problems.

The recent case with publication of 7 fake academic articles in leading science journals caused a scandal in academic society. Opponents of sociological research were pleased in Hungary, for example, this kind of research banned legally. Has been expressed lots of statements in defense of critical research. In my opinion, this situation with falsification of research rather presents trouble in the science world generally. First of all there is lack of blind review system as the main criteria of research success and suitability for publication. After all, lots of falsifications including intentional has occurred in different fields of knowledge, for example, biology and computer sciences. In addition, each area of science has its own research method and if the principle is questioned, whole humanitarian knowledge including philosophy, will have problems. Critical approach can also have extremes, but if it will be abandoned there of power that prevail in science, and less-powerful group right pointing about their position will not being taken into account. Fake authors refer dominance of ideology in some fields. But their own action is ideological  to the core, just opposite point of view. It is quite possible that if they would not publish this “articles” with ideologically relatable “results” they would be published too? Or not? It is a pity that this was not done, the “experiment” turned out to be one-sided and therefore not quite valid...