Sulle spalle di giganti di sabbia. La credibilità della ricerca scientifica e la trasformazione dell'editoria accademica

Credibility in the production and circulation of scientific knowledge is not absolutely guaranteed, but pursued through the adoption of practices that are considered right and good, as emphasised by Merton. Knowledge production has been extensively analysed in terms of various aspects such as replicability, transparency of procedures and methodological correctness. However, less attention has been paid to the circulation of knowledge and the role of peer review in this process. The peer review process, which involves the judgement of external experts on the authenticity of a scientific article, is crucial for the credibility and reputation of published research: it not only filters knowledge but also legitimises it, helping to establish a boundary between science and non-science, as many have pointed out. Today, however, the peer review system is being challenged by two main phenomena: the introduction of quantitative evaluation criteria and the rise of new publishing groups with aggressive commercial practices are affecting the number of scientific publications, thus altering the balance that has historically ensured the credibility and quality of research.