There’s no denying that turning science into fiction through reality TV shows, or making it appealing to viewers and readers with graphic images and videos has enhanced the way the general public gets its knowledge. The problem then becomes separating fact from fiction and learning how to differentiate between information provided for entertainment versus that created based on reputable, high-quality research findings.

As we saw more apparently than ever before with the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s easy to take false information and share it so logically that it appears to be true, and then spreads like wildfire. This is dangerous enough from the general public, but when you’re a researcher, you need to understand what’s reputable material and what isn’t. That’s where automated screening tools can help judge the research quality.

Fluff or Serious Science?

To separate the wheat from the chaff in terms of serious science versus fluff pieces, measures were implemented years ago. Now, the academic publishing industry is used to things like the Journal Impact Factor (JIF) and other designations of rigor. JIF measures how many times a particular article in a journal was cited within the year, giving a measure of the journal’s popularity and reputability among scholars.

Still, there are debates that continue over the worth of the JIF rating, particularly since sensationalism plays a major part in citations, even in academics. It doesn’t necessarily say that one article is better than another, or a less-cited publication is fluff. It just means that the topic was so popular that it was shared frequently. This measurement can also be used by authors to “game” the system by sharing their work frequently or having friends and family do the same thing.

Types of Screening Tools

So if a quantitative measurement of impact findings is so flawed, is there any way to judge real science over entertainment pieces? One key piece is to ensure the work is reproducible by other scientists. If it can be replicated multiple times by other scholars with the same result, that’s a sign of high-quality research.

In addition to replicability, there are automated screening tools that look for specific facets of research that contribute to high-quality findings. When you understand what the tools look for, it helps you prepare your work more thoroughly.

Tools count how many of each criterion are present or missing in a manuscript, then compare it to how many are expected for that field of science. Here are some examples of factors that make some research a higher quality than others, and thus receive a higher score in manual and automated screening processes:

●      Randomization of experimental groups in a data collection structure, with clear reference to the method of randomization

●      Blind trials where the investigator is unaware of the movement among groups

●      A thorough sample size that represents the population

●      Clear data handling from start to finish

●      All variables are clearly reported for authenticity and replicability

●      Any resources are authenticated for legitimacy and high research quality standards

Automation tools take these factors, which are now often compiled through manual review processes, and complete them with technology. This reduces the time and effort required and increases the speed at which the research quality can be determined.

Checking Academic Impact With Impactio

Another way to automate your research processes and find high-quality journals to reference is to use Impactio. Impactio’s journal-finding tools let you search for relevant work in your field, then sort it by filters such as the H5 index, Impact Factor, SJR, and Eigenfactor results. Using journals with strong metrics ensures your own work quality is taken to the next level.

In addition to these tools, the Impactio platform also gives you the opportunity to network with other academic professionals. Impactio is America’s leading academic impact analytics and scientific networking platform. As a scientist or PhD, you’re given the tools to network among your peers, profile academic CVs, and automate your research impact analytics.

When you’re ready to engage with a community of like-minded, intelligent researchers, head to Impactio. You’ll find everything you need to build a team and collaborate, find funders, or check your published material impact metrics in one simple-to-use platform. Your job is challenging, but Impactio takes many of those obstacles and simplifies them.