Low-Yield Publication

A low-yield publication refers to a scientific article that offers minimal new knowledge, clinical relevance, or scientific advancement, despite being peer-reviewed and indexed. These publications may technically meet formal criteria (abstract, case, conclusion), but contribute little or nothing to the evidence base, teaching, or practice improvement.

🧠 Common Features of Low-Yield Publications: Redundant case reports – e.g., “another meningioma resection with no complication”

Obvious conclusions – restating what is already established in guidelines or textbooks

Lack of novelty – no new technique, biomarker, interpretation, or hypothesis

Methodological shallowness – small sample sizes, no controls, no stats

Self-congratulatory tone – celebrating basic procedural success as innovation

Poor generalizability – conclusions cannot be applied outside the specific case

🔥 Critical View in Academia Low-yield publications contribute to:

Scientific noise and database inflation

CV padding without academic impact

Citation pollution, cluttering literature reviews

Editorial drift, where journals prioritize volume over quality

❗ “Just because it’s indexed doesn’t mean it’s meaningful.”