The Impact Factor Game: An Agent-Based Exploration of Self-Citation Influence and Interdisciplinary Dynamics on Impact Metrics

The Impact Factor Game: An Agent-Based Exploration of Self-Citation Influence and Interdisciplinary Dynamics on Impact Metrics | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article The Impact Factor Game: An Agent-Based Exploration of Self-Citation Influence and Interdisciplinary Dynamics on Impact Metrics Luiz Gabriel Correia, Jesús P. Mena-Chalco This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6348076/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 09 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in Applied Network Science → Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The manipulation of the Impact Factor (IF) through editorial decisions inflating self-citations is a growing concern in academic publishing. This work introduces an agent-based model simulating journals as rational agents competing for IF ranking positions in a zero-sum game, generating synthetic citation networks that reproduce key patterns such as the Matthew Effect and the specialization of manipulation strategies across interconnected disciplines. By comparing IF calculation policies with and without self-citations, statistical analysis of simulation results demonstrates that excluding self-citations significantly reduces incentives for manipulative tactics, offering computational evidence for developing policies that promote scientific integrity within the academic publishing ecosystem. Impact Factor Self-citations Editorial Decisions Agent-Based Modeling Interdisciplinary Networks Scientific Integrity Journal Ranking Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files supplementarymaterial.zip Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 09 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in Applied Network Science → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 03 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 05 May, 2025 Reviews received at journal 03 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 Apr, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 02 Apr, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 02 Apr, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 02 Apr, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 02 Apr, 2025 First submitted to journal 31 Mar, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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