I don't know of "research" on soaking being bad for shedding snakes.
But I do know of empirical evidence. I know personally of 5-6 different owners who told me "My snake always has issues shedding and I always soak him before he sheds and everything!" I told them to stop soaking them, and to just provide a humid hide or adjust the humidity or just not to soak them(depending on what type of enclosure they use).
Every one so far as reported how the same snakes shed properly without the soaking. I explained that the snake wasn't having issues shedding and they then needed to soak it... but that they soaked the snake causing the snake to have issues shedding. Is it correct to say it removes oils they need? I dunno. It sounds right to me. I just know that it's been correct in my experience that snakes that are about to shed seem to have MORE issues shedding properly if they are soaked beforehand.
Soaking to get stuck shed off AFTER they have a bad shed is okay, although the pillowcase method seems much less stressful and easier overall. Just my opinion.
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