When preparing scientific articles, it is important to adhere to publication ethics, as the researcher’s reputation in the academic community depends on this. All participants in the publishing process are responsible for the quality and reliability of publications. In our article, we will consider the main functions and principles of publication ethics, as well as its importance in the activities of scientists.
What is the ethics of scientific publications?
Ethics of scientific publications is a set of norms, principles and rules that all participants in the scientific publishing process must follow: authors, editors, reviewers, publishers, journals, institutions, and so on. In particular, this system helps to:
- regulate the preparation, submission, editing, publication and further use of scientific materials
- ensure the reliability and scientific validity of research results
- prevent plagiarism, fabrication and falsification of data
- protect the rights of all participants in the publication process
- ensure the objectivity and confidentiality of the peer review process
- help journal editorial boards make fair and well-founded decisions regarding manuscripts
- support the reputation of journals and researchers
- ensure trust in scientific results on the part of the academic community
Recommendations on publication ethics are provided by specialised organisations, including the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). Major publishers, such as Elsevier, Springer Nature and Wiley, also have their own documents on publication ethics.
Main principles of publication ethics
- Originality of the research and avoidance of plagiarism. A scientific work must be unique, and any borrowed information may be used only with proper reference to the source.
- Reliability of data. In their works, authors must use only verified information, and all described research results must be real and correctly interpreted.
- Correct authorship. Only those individuals who have made a real intellectual contribution to the research may be considered authors of a scientific work.
- Transparent declaration of conflicts of interest. If participants in the publication process have financial, professional, personal or other relationships that may affect the objectivity of the evaluation of results, they must disclose this.
- Ethical peer review. Reviewers must maintain objectivity and confidentiality when evaluating manuscripts, and must not use the information obtained for their own interests.
Special attention should be paid to the issue of artificial intelligence. At present, there are no universal rules on this matter; however, journals or publishers may develop their own standards. In particular, the ICMJE states in its recommendations that authors must disclose the use of AI tools and explain exactly how they used them. If artificial intelligence is used to generate images or as part of the research methodology, this must be indicated in the Methods section.
In turn, the publisher Elsevier has a separate point for reviewers and editors, which prohibits uploading a manuscript or any part of it to AI tools. This applies to cases where confidentiality, authors’ rights or the protection of personal data may be violated. It is important to remember that artificial intelligence is only an auxiliary resource, while the final decision must be made by a human.
Why Is the Ethics of Scientific Publications Important?
It is important to understand that adherence to publication ethics is not only a journal requirement, but also one of the components of scientific activity and the basis of academic integrity. For a scientist, following these principles contributes to the formation of a professional reputation. If plagiarism or unreliable data is found in a scientific article, this may negatively affect not only the author, but also the journal, the institution and the further development of research in the relevant field.
Ethics of scientific publications is important at all stages of working on an article: from planning the research to publication in a journal. The author should remember the originality of the research and its results, correct citations, and openly disclose existing conflicts of interest.
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