Policy Against Manuscripts Produced by Paper Mills
The Revista Peruana de Biología does not tolerate practices such as the purchase or sale of authorship, nor the inclusion of authors who have not made a genuine contribution to the research. These fraudulent behaviors are linked to the activities of so-called scientific article factories (paper mills), whose existence has been widely documented. These factories frequently utilize the fabrication and manipulation of data, false claims, and the presentation of irrelevant conclusions to produce articles that are generally well-written and professionally presented.
Paper mills can operate on a large scale as well-organized international businesses that employ specialized writers, run platforms for the buying and selling of articles (marketplaces), and even “hijack” scientific journals previously indexed in Scopus or WoS, turning them into predatory journals that guarantee the publication of these works. However, paper mills also exist on a smaller scale, at national or local levels. In such cases, fraudulent practices include the purchase of authorship in theses or internal research reports, which are later transformed into scientific articles with the inclusion of authors who had no involvement in the original research.
Manuscripts produced by paper mills are designed to appear legitimate. They are often written by individuals knowledgeable in the field, include seemingly rigorous methodologies, and cite relevant literature. In many cases, the corresponding authors are those responsible for producing such manuscripts, further complicating their detection.
Evaluation for Detecting Fraudulent Manuscripts
To prevent the publication of manuscripts produced by paper mills, the Revista Peruana de Biología implements a rigorous evaluation process based on review by subject-matter expert editors and experienced peer reviewers. Additionally, the following aspects are considered:
- Research registration and funding: Authors must declare project registration codes and funding codes, when applicable.
- Authors’ affiliations: The institutional affiliation of authors is verified to ensure consistency between their affiliation and the research project.
- Scientific publication history: Authors' academic records in ORCID are reviewed, with particular attention to the thematic consistency of their previous publications.
- Methodology and transparency: Materials, methods, and protocols must be described with clarity, precision, and transparency.
- Data availability: Original data must be presented in the manuscript or deposited in a suitable open-access repository.
- Images: Any potential image manipulation in the manuscript is examined.
- Use of artificial intelligence: The use of AI tools must be disclosed and limited to appropriate functions within the research and writing process.
- Detection of suspicious patterns: Indicators such as the repeated use of certain paper mill publishers, excessive citations to low-quality publications, unusual writing structures, or inconsistencies in data and figures are analyzed.
Manuscripts that show signs of having been produced by paper mills will be considered a matter of concern, and the corresponding author will be contacted to address the concerns. If the response is unsatisfactory, the manuscript will be withdrawn from the editorial process if it is under review, or subjected to a retraction process if it has already been published.
Commitment to Continuous Improvement
The Revista Peruana de Biología recognizes that paper mills, whether large or small, constantly evolve to evade detection and continue operating fraudulently. Therefore, the journal will continue reviewing and adapting its editorial processes to strengthen the detection and prevention of these unethical practices, ensuring the integrity and credibility of the scientific research it publishes.
