“Using Citation Counts as a Measure of Quality in Science: Measuring What’s Measurable Rather Than What’s Valid” by Duncan Lindsey
In this classic article, Duncan Lindsey argues that — in its focus on citation counts — science rewards attention, not quality. Measuring what’s easy can obscure what matters, such as a cited paper’s ethical and practical value.
[Scientometrics 1989;15(3):189-203]