EDITOR: GEORGE H. MORRISON
I’chemist ry
EDITORIAL HEADQUARTERS 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone: 202-872-4570 Teletype: 710-8220 151 Executive Editor: Josephine hA. Petruzzi Managing Editor: Barbara Ceesatt Associate Editor: Stuart A. Ebrman Assistant Editor: Marcia S. Cohen Editorial Assistants: Douglas L. Baxter, Rani A. George Production Manager: Leroy 1. Corcoran Art Director: John V. Sinnett Staff Artist: Linda M. Mattingly Copy Editor: Gail M. Mortenson Circulation Manager: Cynthia G. Smith Journals Dept., Columbus, Ohio Associate Head: Marianne Bragan Assistant Editor: Rodney L. Temos Advisory Board: Donald D. Elly, Joel A. Carter, Richard S. Danchik, Richard Durst, Helen M. Free, Shizuo Fujiwara. Georges Guiochon, Csaba Horvath, Wilbur I. Kaye, Bruce R. Kowalski, Robert A. Libby, Richard S. Nicholson, Thomas C. O’Haver, Janet Osteryoung, Robert E. Sievers, Rudolpih H. Stehl InstrumentationAdvisory Panel: Nelson L. Alpert, Edward Chit. Stuart F’. Cram, M. Bonner Denton, Raymond E. Dessy, Martin S. Frant, Michael L. Gross, Fred E. Lytle, Yair Talmi Contributing Editor, The Ana/flical Approach: Jeanette G. Grasselli The Analytical Approach Atlvlsory Panel: Edward C. Dunlop, Robert A. Hofstader, Wilbur D. Shults Regulatory Affairs, Analytical Division Commlttee: Fred Freeberg (Chairman) Published by the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 1155 16th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Books and Journals Division1
Literature Cited and Slighted Publication of results is the logical conclusion of the research process. Clear communication of study results to the scientific population is a sacred obligation of all investigators. While authors may have different styles of exposition, one universal requirement is the citation of the pertinent literature references upon which the material being presented is based. Invariably, new concepts and approaches are built on the work of our predecessors, and it is the responsibility of all researchers to provide the key references relevant to the specific study. This does not mean the generation of long lists of historical references-a process made easier by current computer search techniques-but rather a critical selection of the important background material necessary to properly appreciate the significance of the new contribution. Unfortunately, there are occasional abuses of this scholarly approach. Omission of important references suggests to the reviewers of the manuscript that the author has not done a thorough literature search, thereby casting some doubt on the quality of the work itself. The retrieval of recent references to abstracts of talks, proceedings, or other obscure sources is difficult or impossible, and therefore their omission may be excusable. However, there is no excuse for the omission of relevant primary literature references. While an author’s responsibility to cite key references is clear, the decision as to which references are most important can become a very subjective one. This is particularly true in new or rapidly growing fields where a hierarchy of previously published work has not been established. Scientists have a duty to view all research contributions objectively and to evaluate their proper place in the development of a given field. A research paper’s reference list should reflect the true state of the field, not merely the author’s accomplishments.
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ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 54,
NO. 1,
JANUARY 1982
1
