👉 Citation engineering refers to the strategic manipulation of citations and references in academic writing to influence perceptions, enhance credibility, or manipulate metrics such as impact factor or citation counts. This practice can involve selectively citing sources that support a particular argument, omitting contradictory evidence, or strategically placing citations to create the impression of broader support or authority. While it can be a legitimate tool for academic integrity when used ethically and transparently, citation engineering crosses ethical boundaries when it distorts the true landscape of scholarly work or misrepresents the contributions of others. It's a contentious issue in academia, as it challenges the integrity of research and the trustworthiness of academic metrics.
