More and more academic institutions are using citation analysis as the main technique for measuring the quality of scientific research  This technique involves a yearly scanning of scientific journals to count the number of references to a researcher' s work
Although academic institutions want to encourage good research, use of citation analysis actually works against this goal since scientists seeking to maximize citation counts will avoid multiyear projects in favor of short-term projects in faddish areas
Scientists often cite their colleagues' work when they think it is unfairly neglected by the scientific establishment.