Top US science journals more likely to reject paper by Chinese authors: study

A new study reveals that prestigious U.S. science journals are significantly less likely to publish research from scientists based in China or those with Chinese surnames compared to their counterparts in the U.S. and Canada. The findings suggest a potential bias in the peer-review process of top-tier academic publications.

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Just 2.5 per cent of submissions from China-based researchers were accepted, compared with 8.3 per cent overall for those from North America.

Researchers analyzed a dataset of over 110,000 manuscripts submitted to the journals Science and Science Advances between 2015 and 2020. The study found that only 2.5 percent of submissions from China-based researchers were accepted. In contrast, the acceptance rate for submissions from North America was 8.3 percent.

Even among scientists based in the U.S., those with Chinese surnames experienced lower publication rates than their colleagues without Chinese surnames. The study's lead author, Sam Zhang, a computational social scientist at the University of Vermont, suggested that one possible reason for the disparity could be China's research system, which offers career and financial incentives for scientists to submit to elite journals like Science. This can lead to submissions even when some studies might not be the best fit for the journals' broad scope.

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Even among US-based scientists, those with Chinese surnames had lower publication rates than those without Chinese surnames.

The research, published in Science Advances on July 15, highlights a critical issue in academic publishing. It raises questions about fairness and equity in the dissemination of scientific knowledge, particularly concerning international collaboration and the recognition of research from non-Western institutions.

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one reason might be that China’s research system offered career and financial incentives for scientists to submit to elite journals such as Science.