When scientific citations become illegal: Revealing ‘secretly cited references’

A researcher working alone - disconnected from the world and the wider scientific community - is a classic but misleading image. In reality, research is based on continuous exchange within the scientific community: first you understand the work of others, then you share your findings.

Reading and writing articles published in scientific journals and presented at conferences is a central part of being a researcher. When writing a scientific article, researchers should cite the work of colleagues to provide context, describe sources of inspiration, and explain differences in approaches and results. Positive citation by other researchers is an important measure ...