A new and emerging field, Forensic Scientometrics (FoSci), has been proposed by leading experts in research integrity to tackle the growing problem of unethical research practices and the misuse of scholarly work. This field aims to merge the principles of forensic science with scientometrics—the study of measuring and analyzing scientific literature—to investigate and uphold the integrity of research.
In a preprint article published on arXiv, and highlighted in The Scholarly Kitchen, Dr. Leslie McIntosh (Vice President of Research Integrity at Digital Science) and Cynthia Hudson Vitale (Director of Science Policy and Scholarship at the Association of Research Libraries) outline the importance of Forensic Scientometrics as an academic discipline. They argue that with the expansion of computational research and open science, there has been a corresponding rise in unethical research practices, making it crucial to develop structured methods for identifying and addressing misconduct in research.
The Intersection of Forensics and Scientometrics
Dr. McIntosh explains that the foundation of Forensic Scientometrics lies in combining the investigative techniques of forensic science with the analytical methods of scientometrics. In this context, “forensic” refers to the application of scientific methods to investigate questions of authenticity, accuracy, and integrity within research. By using data science tools to analyze research output, this field can uncover discrepancies, fraudulent activities, and patterns of misconduct in scientific publications.
“As research and open science practices continue to evolve, so do the methods used to uncover and analyze instances of misconduct. The rise of computational tools provides a new avenue for tackling these issues, but it also necessitates a dedicated field of inquiry,” says Dr. McIntosh. The creation of FoSci would allow experts to systematically address these challenges, while also upholding the transparency and trustworthiness of scientific research.

Addressing Fragmented Research Integrity Efforts
Currently, efforts to maintain research integrity are spread across various sectors—researchers, librarians, academic institutions, policymakers, and others—leading to a fragmented approach. According to Dr. McIntosh and Hudson Vitale, this siloed system hampers the overall effectiveness of efforts to protect research integrity.
“Forensic Scientometrics aims to bring together these diverse stakeholders under a coordinated framework, fostering collaboration and promoting a more comprehensive strategy to address lapses in research integrity,” explains Dr. McIntosh. By creating a unified field dedicated to these challenges, FoSci would help build a stronger, more cohesive response to scientific misconduct.
The Importance of Forensic Scientometrics
In a time when public trust in science is critical, addressing misconduct is paramount to maintaining the credibility of scientific research. FoSci would not only investigate unethical behavior but also enhance the scholarly community’s ability to prevent and address these issues effectively.
As Dr. McIntosh notes, the establishment of Forensic Scientometrics could lead to the development of a new community of practice, one that galvanizes interest from researchers and professionals across fields. This would signal the importance of investigating research integrity through data-driven methods and foster collaboration between those who are responsible for upholding the standards of scientific research.
A Call for Collaboration and Development
The field of Forensic Scientometrics represents a crucial step toward addressing the evolving landscape of research integrity. By combining forensic science techniques with scientometric analysis, it provides a systematic and data-driven approach to uncovering and preventing research misconduct. Experts like Dr. McIntosh and Hudson Vitale emphasize the importance of defining this new field to build a more transparent, accountable, and trustworthy scientific community.
With the rise of open science, digital research practices, and the increasing reliance on data analytics, Forensic Scientometrics stands as a timely and necessary innovation in the fight to preserve the authenticity and reliability of scientific research worldwide.
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