Quotational and Reference Accuracy in Surgical Journals
A Continuing Peer Review Problem
- James T. Evans, MD;
- Howard I. Nadjari, MD;
- Sherry A. Burchell, MD
Abstract
Fifty randomly selected references from a single monthly issue of The American Journal of Surgery; Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics; and Surgery were evaluated for citation and quotation errors. Thirteen major and 41 minor citation errors were found in the three journals. Thirty-seven major quotation errors were identified. The data support the hypothesis that authors do not check their references or may not even read them. This hypothesis may be expanded to maintain that reviewers do not check references.
(JAMA. 1990;263:1353-1354)
Footnotes
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Presented at The First International Congress on Peer Review in Biomedical Publication, Chicago, Ill, May 10-12. 1989.
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Reprint requests to Department of Surgery, Nassau County Medical Center, 2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, NY 11554 (Dr Evans).
