Thinking better about high-quality science: A look at some ethical flaws and productivity evaluation

Abstract

Recently, some issues related to scientific ethics and the evaluation of productivity have been increasingly discussed, especially in graduate programs. At the University of the State of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT), on the Campus of Nova Xavantina, Brazil, the researchers have discussed certain issues regarding this subject. They present the main points and perspectives that emerged from this discussion in order to stimulate debate in other graduate programs and shed light on ethical issues that should be addressed to produce high-quality science. In ancient times, creativity was guided by the mysteries of nature, and this was reflected in the resulting publications; however, today, creativity is considered an important requirement for a successful career in science. This new conception of both creativity and scientific productivity is accompanied by the fact that the number of published articles, the number of citations received and the impact factor of journals have become essential components for the evaluation of both individual and institutional scientific production.