On Research Integrity in Arboriculture and (Urban) Forestry: a qualitative systematic review

Abstract

According to Nature, irresponsible research practices (IRP) in science seem to have become a major concern. And also Science has reported retractions of corona virus (COVID-19) papers due to research misconduct. Hence, scientific integrity is becoming widely scrutinised in many fields, but open and public debate on this subject has not started yet in the field of arboriculture and (urban) forestry. IRP can cause long-lasting damage, as they can generate flawed methodologies. This qualitative, systematic review addresses the question whether IRP and Fabrication, Falsification and Plagiarism (FFP) could have pervaded arboriculture and (urban) forestry. More than 600 publications were reviewed for potential inclusion. Relevant examples of IRP/FFP, were taken from literature that offered innovative concepts and new ideas, allegedly scientific and solid results or have made a great impact in the research field and beyond. More than one hundred publications were finally included to support the arguments. Many claims currently seem to have the quality of unsupported suggestions, against which contrary evidence can easily be found. Also IRP/FFP could widely be found regarding commercial tools and methods, predatory publishers and obscure editorial and citational practices, among others. Moreover, voices have been raised in favour of criminalising research misconduct and the observations made herein may thus be of interest to a wider public.