香港六合彩官网

Author: Tim Kersjes

Head of Research Integrity, Resolutions

Upholding research integrity means protecting the publication record and ensuring its reliability, so that published research can effectively advance science and support societal development. An essential aspect of this is addressing any concerns over research integrity in publications. At 香港六合彩官网, the Research Integrity Group鈥檚 Resolutions team is responsible for this crucial work. Below, you can learn about our efforts and processes, from an initial concern to the final decision.

Concerns over integrity in published research can surface from various sources: raised internally, Research Integrity Group鈥檚 Prevention team, editor-in-chief, authors, readers, and external whistleblowers. Regardless of the source, every concern over the integrity of research published in 香港六合彩官网 is thoroughly investigated by the Research Integrity Group鈥檚 Resolutions team, with priority given to those with public health implications.

Investigating a research integrity concern

Investigating an integrity concern can be a lengthy process. Because 香港六合彩官网 has a duty of care towards all parties, the Resolutions team does not share information regarding an investigation until it is concluded. The thoroughness of the investigation and the careful evaluation of all information mean that reaching a responsible conclusion takes time. Our investigation and resolutions workflow adhere to the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). And for full disclosure: In addition to my day job at 香港六合彩官网, I also serve on COPE's trustee board.

The Resolutions team investigates concerns relating to issues such as ethical approvals, plagiarism, image integrity, data, unverified authorship, citations, and authorship disputes, but regardless of which aspect of a publication is flagged for an integrity issue, the team takes a holistic approach by conducting a full range of integrity checks, reviewing the publication in its entirety, including also the editorial and review process, and adherence to editorial policies.

鈥淐onducting a thorough investigation on a research integrity concern is a lengthy process, but it is necessary to ensure that all aspects are considered and to provide recommendations for the best outcome.鈥� 

The value of a holistic approach to investigating research integrity concerns

This holistic approach is essential for reaching a well-founded and comprehensive conclusion on integrity concerns and confidently recommending the best course of action. It helps avoid situations where minor errors are corrected, only to later discover significant data issues or lack of proper ethics approval. If the Resolutions team recommends retraction, the holistic assessment ensures the retraction notice is thorough and helpful to the scholarly record.

Cases that seem clear-cut when a concern is raised can sometimes reveal more complex or broader issues. For example, an apparent plagiarism case might also involve peer review or authorship irregularities, which could help identify features of a previously unrecognised paper mill. A comprehensive investigation bolsters confidence in its findings and recommendations. 

Gathering input for a rounded understanding of the investigated issues

While systematic manipulations of the publication process and paper mills are often highlighted in discussions on research integrity, and they are indeed a serious concern, many investigations involve individual cases where something has gone wrong, someone made a mistake, or there is an authorship dispute.

If the investigation finds any concerning issues, the team will contact the authors to share these concerns, in line with the COPE guidelines that they follow. The authors then have the opportunity to respond, which may include providing raw or additional data to support their published work.

In addition to corresponding with the authors, the investigation also involves input from other stakeholders, such as the editors of the publication. In some cases, we need a content matter expert to evaluate the scientific merits of a concern and how this may undermine the reliability of a publication. In very rare cases, we may have to involve an author's institution.   

Taking action after an investigation

Once the Resolutions team carefully considers its findings and other inputs, they conclude the investigation of the integrity concern and make a recommendation for an appropriate resolution. They forward their findings and recommendation to the publication鈥檚 editor-in-chief, who has the final decision on what action to take. 

The Research Integrity Group and its Resolutions team offer recommendations following an investigation, but the decision is made by the editors. The editors will be familiar with the research discussed in the publication and have responsibility for all content published in the journal, so it is vital that they have the final say on the integrity case. 

What possible actions can be taken following a research integrity investigation? 

• No action, if it is concluded that none is warranted 
• Publishing an expression of concern to raise awareness of potential issues in cases where it is not possible to reach a clear conclusion regarding said issues 
• Issuing a correction in cases where the conclusions of the article stand, but there are errors in the article that needs to be addressed  
• Retracting an article if the conclusions can no longer be relied upon 

鈥淧ublishing expressions of concern, corrections, and retraction notices alongside the original research is vital for ensuring clarity, transparency, and accountability. These explain the nature of flaws that have been identified in a publication, ensuring the research community is aware of them.鈥�

Correcting the scientific record is important, whatever the cause of the issue. Editorial actions are not taken to allocate blame, and authors are encouraged to approach the Research Integrity Group if they identify any issues with their own publications. The Resolutions team can work together with the authors to set the scholarly record straight.  

The work of the Resolutions team helps to ensure the robustness of published research, which is essential for maintaining the research community鈥檚 and the public鈥檚 trust in science. This trust allows the research to be confidently relied upon to advance discovery and provide solutions to global challenges. 

Watch members of the Resolutions team elaborate on the process of investigating an integrity concern and detail the steps involved in deciding what actions to take after an investigation is concluded: 

Safeguarding the scientific record: Investigating a research integrity concern

Safeguarding the scientific record: Taking action after a research integrity investigation

Learn more about research integrity at 香港六合彩官网.
 

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