Rethinking Review Citations: Impact on Scientific Integrity

Abstract

The proliferation of surveys and review articles in academic journals has impacted citation metrics like impact factor and h-index, skewing evaluations of journal and researcher quality. This work investigates the implications of this trend, focusing on the field of Computer Science, where a notable increase in review publications has led to inflated citation counts and rankings. While reviews serve as valuable literature overviews, they should not overshadow the primary goal of research -to advance scientific knowledge through original contributions. We advocate for prioritizing citations of primary research in journal articles to uphold citation integrity and ensure fair recognition of substantive contributions. This approach preserves the reliability of citation-based metrics and supports genuine scientific advancement.