Journal Padding [Neurosurgery Wiki]

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====== Journal Padding ======

**Definition:**  
*Journal padding* refers to the editorial practice of increasing the number of published articles in a scientific journal by including **redundant, low-impact, or fragmentary content** that lacks genuine academic value.

===== Characteristics =====
  * Serial publication of content that could be condensed into a single article.
  * Preference for commemorative, anecdotal, or descriptive pieces over original research.
  * Recycling of well-known material without critical reanalysis.
  * Tolerance of poor methodological or editorial standards.
  * Favoritism towards institutional contributors or editorial board members.

===== Red Flags =====
^ Symptom                                ^ Consequence                                      ^
| Multi-part series with superficial depth | Inflates volume without adding substance         |
| Lack of new data or original argument    | Wastes journal space and reader attention         |
| Editorial self-promotion                | Compromises objectivity and credibility           |
| Low citation potential                  | Undermines the journal's academic reputation      |

===== Consequences =====
  * Erosion of scientific integrity.
  * Dilution of academic standards.
  * Reader fatigue and reduced trust in the journal.
  * Artificial inflation of editorial metrics (e.g., article count, visibility).

===== Related Terms =====
  * Academic inflation
  * Editorial bias
  * Low-impact publishing

===== Application Example =====
  * The five-part historical series on Academic Neurosurgery in ''Neurocirugía (Engl Ed)'' could be interpreted as a case of journal padding, as it stretches limited historical insight over multiple articles with redundant structure and minimal methodological rigor.