Programme Name: M.

Tech Geoinformatics
Course Name: Research Ethics, Project Management and IPR
Unit: II
Key Topics: Publication ethics: definition, introduction and importance, best practices /
standards setting initiatives and guidelines: COPE, WAME, etc., Conflicts of interest,
Publication misconduct: definition, concept, problems that lead to unethical behaviour and vice
versa, types, Violation of publication ethics, authorship and contributorship, Identification of
publication misconduct, complaints and appeals, Predatory publishers and journals

Dr. R. Jegankumar
Professor & Head
Department of Geography,
Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620024
Publication ethics:
• Publication ethics refers to the principles and standards that guide the
behaviour of individuals involved in the publication process, including
authors, editors, reviewers, and publishers.
• They encompass various aspects such as honesty in reporting research
findings, proper attribution of authorship, avoidance of plagiarism and
the responsible handling of conflicts of interest.
Importance:
• Integrity and Credibility: Upholding ethical standards ensures that the
research published is accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
• Prevention of misconduct: Ethical guidelines help prevent misconduct
such as plagiarism, data fabrication and falsification
• Recognition and Accountability: Proper attribution of authorship and
contributor ship ensures that individuals receive appropriate credit for their
work
• Conflict of Interest Management: Ethical practices require the disclosure
and management of conflicts of interest
• Promotion of Fairness: adhering to ethical standards promotes fairness in
the review and publication process.
 Standards setting initiatives in publication
ethics

Committee on Publication Ethics

(COPE):
Overview: COPE provides resources and
support for editors and publishers to promote
integrity in research and its publications
Guidelines: COPE’S guidelines cover
various aspects of publications ethics, including
authorship, conflicts of interest, and handling
misconduct.
 Standards setting initiatives in publication
ethics
World association of Medical Editors
(WAME):
Overview: WAME is a global organization of
editors of peer-reviewed medical journals.
Guidelines: WAME’s principles focus on
transparency, best practices in scholarly publishing, and
promoting ethical standards.
 Standards setting initiatives in publication
ethics
International Committee of medical Journal
Editors (ICMJE):
Overview: ICMJE provides recommendations
for the conduct, reporting, editing and publication of
scholarly work in medical journals.
Guidelines: ICMJE's guidelines address issues
such as authorship, conflicts of interest, and ethical
considerations in research.
 Standards setting initiatives in publication
ethics
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ):
Overview: DOAJ is a community-curated
online directory that indexes and provides access to
high-quality, open-access, peer-reviewed journals.
Guidelines: DOAJ's principles emphasize
transparency, best practices, and ethical standards in
open-access publishing.
Conflicts of Interest
• Definition: A conflict of interest occurs when an individual's personal,
financial, or professional interests have the potential to influence their
objectivity, integrity, or judgment in conducting or reporting research.
• Examples of Conflicts of Interest
1.Financial Ties: Receiving funding, grants, or personal payments from
organizations that may benefit from the research outcomes.
2.Personal Relationships: Collaborating with friends, family members, or
colleagues where personal relationships may affect impartiality.
3.Academic Competition: Situations where researchers compete for
recognition, funding, or career advancement, potentially leading to biased
reporting.
Management of Conflicts of Interest
1. Disclosure: Researchers must disclose any potential conflicts of
interest to their institutions, funding bodies, and in their
publications.
2. Transparency: Full transparency about potential conflicts helps
maintain trust and credibility in the research process.
3. Institutional Policies: Institutions should have clear policies and
procedures for managing conflicts of interest, including guidelines
for disclosure and review.
Importance of Managing Conflicts of Interest
1. Maintaining Objectivity: Ensures that research findings are based
on unbiased and objective analysis.
2. Building Trust: Transparency about conflicts of interest helps build
trust among the scientific community and the public.
3. Preventing Misconduct: Proper management of conflicts of interest
reduces the risk of unethical behavior and research misconduct.
Publication Misconduct
• Definition: Publication misconduct refers to unethical behavior in the
process of publishing scientific research. This includes actions that
compromise the integrity, credibility, and reliability of scholarly
communication.
• Concept and Problems Leading to Unethical Behavior
• Pressure to Publish: Researchers often face immense pressure to publish
frequently for career advancement, funding, and recognition.
• Lack of Awareness: Inadequate training in research ethics can lead to
unintentional misconduct.
• Competitive Environment: The competitive nature of academia can drive
researchers to cut corners or engage in unethical practices.
Types of Publication Misconduct
• Plagiarism: Using someone else's work or ideas without proper attribution.
• Data Fabrication: Making up data or results.
• Data Falsification: Manipulating research data to produce desired
outcomes.
• Inappropriate Authorship: Including individuals who did not contribute
significantly to the research or excluding those who did.
• Duplicate Submission: Submitting the same manuscript to multiple
journals simultaneously.
• Salami Slicing: Dividing one significant piece of research into several
smaller publications.
• Violation of Publication Ethics
Examples: Plagiarism, duplicate publication, data manipulation.
Consequences: Retractions, loss of credibility, legal actions.
• Authorship and Contributor ship
Guidelines: Follow criteria set by organizations like ICMJE for
determining authorship.
Responsibilities: Ensure proper acknowledgment of contributions and
accountability for the published work.
• Identification of Publication Misconduct
Tools: Plagiarism detection software, peer review.
Processes: Editorial checks, institutional investigations.
• Complaints and Appeals
Process: Clear procedures for handling complaints and appeals related
to publication misconduct.
Guidelines: COPE's flowcharts and best practices for managing
complaints.
Predatory Publishers and Journals
• Definition: Predatory publishers and journals are exploitative entities that
prioritize self-interest over scholarly integrity. They often engage in
unethical practices such as misleading information, lack of proper peer
review, and aggressive solicitation of manuscripts.
• Characteristics of Predatory Publishers
1.Misleading Information: They provide false or deceptive information
about their editorial board, impact factor, and indexing.
2.Lack of Peer Review: They often bypass the rigorous peer review process,
leading to the publication of low-quality or unverified research.
3.Aggressive Solicitation: They frequently send unsolicited emails to
researchers, urging them to submit their work for a fee.
4.High Fees: They charge exorbitant publication fees without providing the
editorial and publishing services that legitimate journals offer.
Identification of Predatory Journals
• Beall's List: A well-known resource that lists potential predatory
publishers and journals.
• Think. Check. Submit.: An international initiative that helps
researchers identify trustworthy journals.
• Lack of Transparency: Predatory journals often lack transparency in
their operations, including unclear publication fees and editorial
processes
Impact of Predatory Publishing
1.Undermines Scientific Integrity: The publication of unverified or
low-quality research can mislead other researchers and the public.
2.Wastes Resources: Researchers may waste time and money on
publishing in predatory journals, which do not contribute to their
academic reputation.
3.Damages Careers: Publishing in predatory journals can harm a
researcher's credibility and career prospects.
How to Avoid Predatory Journals
1.Research the Journal: Verify the journal's reputation, editorial board,
and peer review process.
2.Consult Trusted Lists: Use resources like Beall's List and the
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) to identify legitimate
journals.
3.Seek Advice: Consult colleagues, mentors, or institutional librarians
for recommendations on reputable journals.
Reference:
• Beall's List – of Potential Predatory Journals and Publishers
• Complaints and appeals | COPE: Committee on Publication Ethics
• IDENTIFICATION OF PUBLICATION MISCONDUCT,
COMPLAINTS & APPEALS IN ETHICS | PPT | Free Download
• ICMJE | Recommendations | Defining the Role of Authors and
Contributors
• 1.1. Violations of Publication Ethics » İSNAD Atıf Sistemi
• Types of publication misconduct | SAGE India
Reference:
• Conflicts of interest in academic publishing – Wikipedia
• Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing ||
WAME
• Search resultsGuidelines | COPE: Committee on Publication Ethics
• Publication ethics: Definitions, Introduction and Importance | PPT |
Free Download
• What is PUBLICATION ETHICS? definition of PUBLICATION
ETHICS (Psychology Dictionary)