Citations increase with manuscript length, author number, and references cited in ecology journals
Abstract
Mosttop impact factor ecology journals indicate a preference or requirement
for short manuscripts; some state clearly defined word limits, whereas
others indicate a preference for more concise papers. Yet evidence from a
variety of academic fields indicates that within journals longer papers
are both more positively reviewed by referees and more highly cited. We
examine the relationship between citations received and manuscript
length, number of authors, and number of references cited for papers
published in 32 ecology journals between 2009 and 2012. We find that
longer papers, those with more authors, and those that cite more
references are cited more. Although paper length, author count, and
references cited all positively covary, an increase in each
independently predicts an increase in citations received, with estimated
relationships positive for all the journals we examined. That all three
variables covary positively with citations suggests that papers
presenting more and a greater diversity of data and ideas are more
impactful. We suggest that the imposition of arbitrary manuscript length
limits discourages the publication of more impactful studies. We
propose that journals abolish arbitrary word or page limits, avoid
declining papers (or requiring shortening) on the basis of length alone
(irrespective of content), and adopt the philosophy that papers should
be as long as they need to be.
Citations increase with manuscript length, author number, and references cited in ecology journals - Fox - 2016 - Ecology and Evolution - Wiley Online Library
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