1. PhD candidate in (desperate) need to publish faces biased request from journal
The researcher is working with a hypothesis rather different from “accepted truths” within the field.
Some established colleagues are skeptical to the hypothesis which, if proven, could imply a paradigm shift.
The manuscript has already been rejected by a journal under the objection that it is outside their scope.
One journal finally wishes to publish the article, but the editor requests the author to cite more papers from his journal.

2. Case: Editor wants author to cite his journal

3. Case: Editor wants author to cite his journal
Possible course of actions
1. Add the citations and be done with it.

4. Case: Editor wants author to cite his journal
Possible course of actions
1. Add the citations and be done with it.
2. Don’t comply, restart editorial process somewhere else.

5. Case: Editor wants author to cite his journal
Possible course of actions
1. Add the citations and be done with it.
2. Don’t comply, restart editorial process somewhere else.
3. Don’t comply, disclose editor practice to research community.

6. Case: Editor wants author to cite his journal
Possible course of actions
1. Add the citations and be done with it.
2. Don’t comply, restart editorial process somewhere else.
3. Don’t comply, disclose editor practice to research community.
4. Comply, but work to measure academic achievements by other method.

7. Gets publication, increase IF. Might decrease objectivity.
Comply
Researcher interest
Gets publication.
Journal interest
Gets publication, increase IF. Might decrease objectivity.
Interest of research community
Access results more quickly. IF loses relevance.
Researcher integrity
Freedom of research is decreased.

8. No publication, no funding. Small statement against journal.
Comply
Don’t Comply
Researcher interest
Gets publication.
No publication, no funding. Small statement against journal.
Journal interest
Gets publication, increase IF. Might decrease objectivity.
Might lose a good paper, and the work already spent on it.
Interest of research community
Access results more quickly. IF loses relevance.
Litterature less cluttered / easier to read without unnecessary refs.
Researcher integrity
Freedom of research is decreased.
Maintains integrity.

9. Don’t comply - tell community
Researcher interest
Gets publication, if problem does not persist. Might get “blacklisted” among editors.
Journal interest
Negative publicity.
Interest of research community
Increase demands on editors. Fuel to a much needed debate.
Researcher duty
Increases integrity. Example “Beall’s list”

10. Don’t comply - tell community Comply, but try to change system
Researcher interest
Gets publication, if problem does not persist. Might get “blacklisted” among editors.
Impossible to do alone.
Journal interest
Negative publicity.
Loses lucrative market.
Interest of research community
Increase demands on editors. Fuel to a much needed debate.
More time for real research.
Researcher duty
Increases integrity. Example “Beall’s list”
Join a “political” movement. Example: Publons or StackExchange