Researchgate Projects: Unregulated Academic Social Media

• Main Author: Teixeira da Silva Jaime A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sciendo 2017-08-01
• Series: Social Communication
• Subjects: academic social network; accountability; citation fraud; hidden costs and conflicts of interest; retracted papers; transparency
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1515/sc-2017-0001

ResearchGate (RG) is one of the most popular academic social media platforms currently available to scientists. Allowing scientists, researchers and academics (SRAs) to network through the creation of a free account. RG provides a virtually unlimited ability for SRAs to share research, contact each other through an integrated platform and share ideas. In recent times, projects have been increasing in scope and visibility, fortifying the RG network status. This paper examines some of the project-related features at RG and points out, within a wider examination of RG and other SRA-oriented academic social media platforms, the existing benefits and risks. The results of this work will allow SRAs to manage and invest their time in a better way.