Multiple discovery, simultaneous research or... plagiarism?

[felix_atagong]

In a 2012 Phd by publication, based on a book from 2010, I found a chapter where the author claims to have found some literary references (or sampling) in the literary work of someone else. However, an internet essay, published in 2005 on a forum and updated in 2006 and 2009, has exactly the same findings. But this was published by a mere 'fan' of

Comments

[babyfood22]

This sounds like arts subject work, so my criticisms may be totally misplaced. But in science, 1. ignorance of what is out there means you are a poor scholar who either doesn't know how to or hasn't bothered to research the topic properly (admittedly you don't get Internet 'fan' sources doing original research though, so), and 2. while there are certainly scientists who don't follow ethical rules of publication, many people think that the above is a problem. Could have been dispelled in the second instance merely by saying 'X has described similar work on the matter[ref]; here is what I have to add to it'.

[trundle]

There are similar protocols in the humanities, but I think part of the distinction here is that the other work was 'published' outside of the institutional structures of academia (peer-reviewed journals, etc.). While this can and does happen in the sciences, my sense is that in the era of "Big Science," where much of the original research being conducted requires access to substantial institutional support, it probably doesn't happen often

[max_ambiguity]

This. I personally would cite it, and then fight with anyone who refused to recognize "fan" work as relevant. But depending on the specific field, this will gave greater or lesser consequences.

[oursin]

I'm not sure this is all that much different from citing something you'd found about a person you were researching via an online genealogy/family history site. Though one might want to check any citations to publicly accessible archives, in one instance in my research somebody had scanned, uploaded and transcribed a letter in current family possession which was otherwise unavailable.

[felix_atagong]

Thanks for the answers!