| Indicator | University Z-score | Average country Z-score |
|---|---|---|
|
Multi-affiliation
|
0.110 | 0.648 |
|
Retracted Output
|
-0.475 | -0.189 |
|
Institutional Self-Citation
|
-0.197 | -0.200 |
|
Discontinued Journals Output
|
-0.387 | -0.450 |
|
Hyperauthored Output
|
0.191 | 0.859 |
|
Leadership Impact Gap
|
0.746 | 0.512 |
|
Hyperprolific Authors
|
-1.012 | -0.654 |
|
Institutional Journal Output
|
-0.268 | -0.246 |
|
Redundant Output
|
1.107 | 0.387 |
The Université de Picardie Jules Verne (UPJV) presents a robust scientific integrity profile, with an overall risk score of -0.245 indicating a performance that is generally stronger than the global average. The institution demonstrates exceptional control in several key areas, showing very low risk in retracted output, publication in discontinued journals, hyperprolific authorship, and use of institutional journals. However, areas requiring strategic attention include a moderate rate of redundant output (salami slicing) and a notable gap between its overall impact and the impact of research under its direct leadership, suggesting a dependency on external collaborations. These integrity metrics are contextualized by the university's outstanding research strengths, particularly in Chemistry (ranked 7th in France), Energy (12th), Environmental Science (24th), and Pharmacology (30th), according to SCImago Institutions Rankings data. To fully align with its mission of maintaining a "high level of quality," it is crucial to address the identified risks. Practices like data fragmentation or dependency on external leadership could subtly undermine the very quality and autonomous knowledge transmission the university champions. By reinforcing policies that encourage comprehensive publications and fostering internal research leadership, UPJV can ensure its operational practices perfectly mirror its commitment to excellence and solidify its reputation as a leading institution.
The institution's Z-score for multiple affiliations is 0.110, which is considerably lower than the French national average of 0.648. Although this indicator falls within a moderate risk band for both the university and the country, UPJV demonstrates a more controlled and differentiated management of this phenomenon. This suggests that while the practice is present, the institution is successfully moderating a risk that appears more common and pronounced across the national system. While multiple affiliations can be legitimate, this more contained rate indicates a lower exposure to the risks of strategic "affiliation shopping" or artificial inflation of institutional credit, reflecting a healthier approach to collaborative attribution than the national trend.
With a Z-score of -0.475, the institution displays an exceptionally low rate of retracted publications, performing significantly better than the already low national average of -0.189. This result points to a consistent and highly effective system of quality control. Retractions can be complex events, but such a low score is a strong positive signal, suggesting that the university's pre-publication review and supervision mechanisms are robust. This absence of risk signals aligns with a high national standard for integrity, indicating that potential methodological errors or malpractice are successfully identified and corrected before they can damage the scientific record, thereby reinforcing the institution's culture of integrity.
The institution's rate of self-citation, with a Z-score of -0.197, is in almost perfect alignment with the national average of -0.200. This indicates a level of risk that is statistically normal and entirely expected for its context and size. A certain degree of self-citation is natural, as it reflects the cumulative progress of established research lines. The university's score demonstrates a healthy equilibrium, suggesting that it validates its work through a balanced mix of internal continuity and external scrutiny, without showing signs of concerning scientific isolation or "echo chambers" that could artificially inflate its impact.
The university's Z-score in this area is -0.387, compared to a national average of -0.450. Both scores are in the very low-risk category, indicating excellent performance. However, the institution's score is marginally higher than the national baseline, representing a minimal signal in an otherwise inert environment. This is best described as residual noise rather than a substantive risk. Overall, the data confirms that the institution exercises strong due diligence in selecting publication venues, effectively avoiding the reputational damage associated with predatory or low-quality journals and ensuring its research is channeled through reputable media.
The institution registers a Z-score of 0.191 for hyper-authored publications, a figure notably more controlled than the French national average of 0.859. While both the university and the country show moderate signals in this area, UPJV appears to manage this trend with greater rigor. This suggests the presence of effective institutional policies or academic norms that moderate a practice more widespread at the national level. By curbing the tendency toward author list inflation, the university better preserves individual accountability and transparency in its publications, distinguishing its collaborative practices from potential "honorary" or political authorship.
The institution exhibits a Z-score of 0.746 for this indicator, a value higher than the national average of 0.512. This reveals that the university is more prone than its national peers to a dependency on external collaborations for achieving high-impact research. The wider gap suggests a potential sustainability risk, where a significant portion of its scientific prestige may be exogenous and contingent on partners, rather than generated by its own structural capacity. This finding invites a strategic reflection on whether the institution's excellence metrics stem from genuine internal intellectual leadership or from a supporting role in high-impact collaborations led by others.
With an outstanding Z-score of -1.012, the institution demonstrates a complete absence of risk signals related to hyperprolific authorship, performing substantially better than the already low national average of -0.654. This low-profile consistency points to a healthy and well-balanced research environment. Extreme individual publication volumes can challenge the integrity of the scientific record by prioritizing metrics over substance. The university's excellent score indicates that it effectively discourages practices such as coercive authorship or superficial contributions, fostering a culture where quality and meaningful intellectual work are valued over sheer quantitative output.
The institution's Z-score of -0.268 for publications in its own journals is in total alignment with the national average of -0.246, placing both in a zone of maximum scientific security. This integrity synchrony confirms that the university's research output consistently undergoes independent, external peer review. By avoiding over-reliance on in-house journals, the institution mitigates the risk of conflicts of interest and academic endogamy. This practice ensures its scientific production achieves global visibility and is validated through standard competitive processes, rather than using internal channels as potential 'fast tracks' to publication.
The institution's Z-score for redundant output is 1.107, a figure significantly higher than the national average of 0.387. This indicates a high exposure to this particular risk, suggesting that the practice of fragmenting research is more prevalent at the university than among its national peers. A high value in this indicator serves as an alert for "salami slicing," where a coherent study may be divided into minimal publishable units to artificially inflate productivity metrics. This practice not only distorts the scientific evidence but also overburdens the peer-review system, signaling a need to reinforce policies that prioritize the publication of substantial and significant new knowledge.
