MDPI has launched an investigation into suspected misconduct in the peer review process across its journals, following the discovery of a 'reviewer mill' issue. The investigation, aimed at addressing concerns regarding the use of templated reports and unethical citation practices, underscores MDPI's commitment to upholding the highest standards in scholarly publishing.
According to the interim report released by MDPI, a total of 84 papers spanning 23 journals are potentially affected by the misconduct in question. The investigation revealed instances where reviewers recommended 2-4 references in 70 articles, with a concerning number of papers containing unrelated references and self-citations. Notably, in 40 papers, recommended citations were omitted altogether.
The report identifies ten reviewers implicated in these irregularities, indicating a potential collaboration among them. However, there are no clear indications of any direct relationship between the authors and the reviewers involved. Furthermore, the investigation found no evidence of misconduct by guest editors, suggesting that the issue primarily stems from reviewer misconduct.
MDPI has outlined several proactive measures to address the issue effectively. Implicated reviewers will be contacted to provide an explanation for their behavior and to confirm their identities. Further, authors and academic editors of the affected articles will be promptly notified, and post-publication peer review will be initiated for 30 papers to ensure the integrity of the publications.
MDPI is collaborating with academic institutions to address the behavior of the implicated reviewers and prevent future instances of misconduct. An evaluation and potential correction process will be initiated for irrelevant citations found in the 47 identified articles, aiming to rectify any misleading or inappropriate references.
MDPI is working closely with authors and academic editors to determine necessary revisions and corrections to affected articles, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the published content.
As the investigation unfolds, MDPI remains dedicated to maintaining the trust and credibility of its journals, safeguarding the integrity of the peer review process, and upholding the highest ethical standards in academic publishing.
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