research ethics, misconduct, databases

1. A presentation on an assignment on “Ethics, Conduct,
Open Access Publishing, Publication Misconduct,
Databases and Research Metrics”.
Presented By :–
JAHIRUL ISLAM.

2. Acknowledgement
I am thankful to all my teachers who had
helped me in the journey of acquiring
knowledge. I am also thankful all the
teachers who had taught us 701 without
their teaching it cannot be completed.

3. Contents
❖ open access journal
➢ Journal vs publication
❖ predatory journal
➢ Software tools to identify predatory journal or publisher
❖ Online resources to check publisher copyright and self archiving policies
❖ Research misconduct .
❖ Plagiarism case study
❖ Indexing
❖ Authorship
❖ Impact factor
❖ Publishing policies
❖ Conflict of interest

4. Open access journal
● Open access journals are academic journals that provide free and unrestricted access to their contents online.
● These journals make research and scientific information available to anyone with an internet connection, regardless of
their institutional affiliation or financial resources.
● Open access journals often follow a creative commons license, which allows for the free distribution and reuse of
published articles.
● Difference between journal and publication
Journal Publication
1. A journal is a scholarly publication
that includes various articles written
by professors, researchers and
other experts.
1. A publication is distributing printed
copies of work for the public.
2. It is made for academics audiences. 2. It is made for general public.
3. It contain informations of only
specific field or topics.
3. It cover almost all fields.
4. It is baised on research findings 4. It is not specific to any subjects or topic.

5. Predatory journal
● A predatory journal is a publication that presents itself as a legitimate academic journal but engages in unethical
and deceptive practices to exploit authors for financial gain.
● They are also called fraudulent, deceptive or pseudo-journals.
● It includes “ publications that claim to be legitimate scholarly journals, but misrepresent their publishing
practices”.
There are several software tools that can be used to identify predatory journals or publishers, following are some of them
1. Cabell's Blacklist: Cabell's Blacklist is a database of journals that have been identified as potentially predatory. The
database is updated regularly and includes information about the journal's publisher, review process, and publication fees.
2. Think. Check. Submit.: Think. Check. Submit. is an online resource that provides a checklist for researchers to use when
evaluating potential publishers or journals. The checklist includes criteria such as transparency, peer review process, and
editorial policies.
3. JournalGuide: JournalGuide is a free tool that helps researchers to find reputable journals in their field. The tool includes
information about the journal's scope, review process, and impact factor.
4. DOAJ: The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) is a database of high-quality, peer-reviewed open access journals.
Journals must meet certain criteria to be included in the DOAJ, such as having a transparent review process and adhering to
ethical publishing standards.
5. SCImago Journal Rank: The SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) is a tool that provides information about the quality and impact of
academic journals. The tool uses metrics such as citation counts and H-index to rank journals in various disciplines.

6. Online resources to check publisher copyright and self archiving policies
These software tools can be useful resources for researchers to use when evaluating potential journals or
publishers. However, it is important to note that they are not foolproof, and researchers should still use their
own judgment and evaluate journals carefully before submitting their work for publication.
1. SHERPA/RoMEO: This is a database of publisher copyright policies and self-archiving permissions. You can search for a
specific publisher or journal to find out what you are allowed to do with your published articles. The website is available at:
https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/
1. Crossref: This is a global registry of scholarly content, including journal articles, conference proceedings, and books.
Crossref provides a variety of services for publishers, including registration, citation linking, and metadata distribution. You
can search for a specific publication to find out who the publisher is and what their copyright policies are. The website is
available at: https://www.crossref.org/
1. Creative Commons: This is a nonprofit organization that provides free, easy-to-use copyright licenses that allow creators to
share their work with the public while retaining some rights. You can use Creative Commons licenses to publish your work
online and control how it is used by others. The website is available at: https://creativecommons.org/
1. Copyright Clearance Center: This is a global rights broker that provides licensing solutions for businesses and academic
institutions. You can use the website to obtain permission to use copyrighted materials, such as journal articles, book
chapters, and images. The website is available at: https://www.copyright.com/

7. Research misconduct
● Research misconduct refers to any action that violates the standards of ethical and responsible research practices.
● It includes fabricating, falsifying, or manipulating data, plagiarism, improper authorship, failure to disclose conflicts of
interest, and other forms of dishonesty or unethical behavior.
● Research misconduct undermines the integrity of scientific research and can have serious consequences for the
individuals involved, as well as for the scientific community as a whole.
Examples of research misconduct include:
1. Fabricating or falsifying data: This includes making up or altering data to support a particular hypothesis or conclusion.
1. Plagiarism: This includes copying someone else's work or ideas without proper attribution or permission.
1. Improper authorship: This includes adding or removing authors from a publication without their consent or without
meeting the criteria for authorship.
1. Failure to disclose conflicts of interest: This includes failing to disclose financial or personal relationships that could bias
the research or its results.
2. Misrepresenting research findings: This includes presenting research findings in a way that is misleading or inaccurate.
1. Abusing human or animal subjects: This includes violating ethical standards for the use of human or animal subjects in
research.

8. Plagiarism case study
● One well-known plagiarism case study involves the former German defense minister, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg. In 2011, it was
revealed that Guttenberg had plagiarized significant portions of his doctoral thesis. The case attracted widespread media
attention and led to his resignation from office.Guttenberg's thesis, which he had submitted to the University of Bayreuth in 2006,
was found to contain extensive plagiarism, with over 20 pages of text lifted verbatim from other sources without proper citation.
In addition, many other sections of the thesis were found to have been paraphrased without adequate attribution.The scandal
sparked a wider debate about academic integrity in Germany and led to calls for greater scrutiny of doctoral theses. Guttenberg
initially denied any wrongdoing, but eventually apologized and resigned from his position as defense minister.The case of
Guttenberg illustrates the importance of academic honesty and the serious consequences of plagiarism, even for high-profile
individuals. It also highlights the need for universities to have robust policies and procedures in place for detecting and
addressing plagiarism.
● One notable plagiarism case study in India involves the former vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Professor SK
Sopory. In 2018, it was revealed that Sopory had plagiarized portions of a paper he had co-authored with a colleague and
submitted to the Journal of Environmental Biology in 2016.The paper, titled "Stress Signaling in Plants: A Changing Paradigm,"
contained several sections that were lifted directly from other sources without proper citation, including from a book chapter and
a review article. The journal retracted the paper in response to the plagiarism allegations.Following an investigation, JNU's
Executive Council, which is responsible for the administration of the university, found Sopory guilty of plagiarism and imposed a
fine of Rs 30,000 (approximately $400) on him. The council also directed him to withdraw the paper from circulation and to write
an apology to the journal for the plagiarism.The case of Sopory highlights the importance of academic integrity and the need for
universities to have clear policies and procedures for addressing plagiarism. It also underscores the potential consequences of
plagiarism for one's professional reputation and career.

9. Indexing
● Indexing is an essential process in the world of academic publishing, as it allows for the efficient
organization and retrieval of information. By including journals or articles in databases or search
engines, indexing makes it easier for researchers to access and utilize relevant information.
● Indexing services utilize a set of criteria to determine which publications are included in their
databases. These criteria may encompass a variety of factors, such as the quality and rigor of the
peer review process, the reputation of the publisher or journal, and the relevance and impact of the
research within the academic community.
● Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed are some well-known indexing services for academic
publishing.These services provide researchers with the ability to search for articles and journals within
specific subject areas, and often offer additional features such as citation tracking and analysis of
research impact. Being indexed in these databases can have significant benefits for authors and
journals, as it can increase the visibility and impact of their research and enhance their reputation
within the academic community.

10. Authorship
● In academic publishing, authorship refers to the attribution of credit and responsibility for a research article or
publication to one or more individuals. The criteria for authorship may vary between disciplines and journals, but
typically involve substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research.
● Authorship can have important implications for careers, funding, and reputation in academia, and it is therefore
important to ensure that all individuals who have made significant contributions to the research are appropriately
credited as authors. In some cases, journals may also require authors to provide a statement of contributions or a
description of their role in the research process.
● However, determining authorship can sometimes be a complex process, particularly in cases where multiple
individuals have contributed to the research in different ways. It is important for researchers to communicate clearly
and transparently about their contributions and to follow the guidelines and standards of their field or journal when
determining authorship.
● In cases where there is a dispute over authorship or concerns about the accuracy of authorship attribution, it may be
necessary to seek mediation or follow established procedures for correcting or retracting publications. Ultimately, the
integrity and accuracy of authorship attributions are essential for maintaining trust and credibility in the scientific
community.

11. Authorship policies
Authorship policies are guidelines and rules that define the criteria for authorship and the responsibilities of authors in academic
publishing. These policies are intended to ensure that authorship is assigned appropriately and credit is given to those who have
contributed to the research. Authorship policies may vary across disciplines, institutions, and publishers, but typically include the
following elements:
● Criteria for authorship: These criteria outline the specific contributions that qualify an individual for authorship. Examples may
include making substantial contributions to the conception, design, analysis, or interpretation of the research; drafting or revising
the manuscript; and approving the final version of the manuscript.
● Order of authorship: Authorship policies may also provide guidance on the order in which authors should be listed. In some
cases, this may be determined by the relative contribution of each author, while in others it may be determined by convention or
agreement among the authors.
● Contributions and acknowledgments: In addition to authorship, policies may also define how contributions by individuals who do
not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged. This may include contributions such as data collection, analysis, or
technical support. Policies may also specify how conflicts of interest or other potential biases should be disclosed.
● Responsibilities of authors: Authorship policies may also outline the responsibilities of authors, such as ensuring the accuracy
and integrity of the research, disclosing conflicts of interest, and complying with ethical guidelines and regulations.
● Dispute resolution: Finally, authorship policies may provide a mechanism for resolving disputes related to authorship or other
issues that may arise during the publication process.

12. IMPACT FACTOR
● The impact factor is a measure of the frequency with which the "average article" in a journal has been cited in a
particular year or period. It is commonly used as a metric for the quality and prestige of a journal within a specific field of
study.
● The impact factor is calculated by dividing the number of citations a journal receives in a given year by the total number
of articles published in the journal during the two previous years. For example, if a journal published 100 articles in 2021
and received 500 citations in 2022 for articles published in 2020 and 2021, its impact factor for 2022 would be 5.0 (500
citations divided by 100 articles).
● While the impact factor can be useful in assessing the relative importance of a journal within a field, it has been criticized
for a variety of reasons, including its potential to incentivize researchers to publish in high-impact journals at the expense
of publishing in journals that may be a better fit for their research, and its failure to take into account factors such as the
quality of individual articles or the specific citation practices of different fields.

13. PUBLISHING POLICIES
Publishing policies are a set of guidelines and principles that govern the publication process for academic research. These policies
typically cover a wide range of issues, including ethical considerations, authorship, peer review, copyright, and access to information.
Some common elements of publishing policies may include:
● Ethics: Publishing policies often require adherence to ethical standards and guidelines for research, including those related to
human and animal subjects, data management, and conflicts of interest.
● Authorship: Policies may specify criteria for authorship, such as substantial contribution to the research, accountability for the
work, and approval of the final version of the manuscript.
● Peer review: Policies may outline the peer review process for evaluating manuscripts, including the qualifications and
responsibilities of reviewers, the timeline for review, and the criteria for acceptance or rejection.
● Copyright: Policies may address issues related to copyright, including author rights, ownership of intellectual property, and
permissions for use and distribution of the published work.
● Open access: Policies may address the availability and accessibility of published research, including requirements for open
access publication and archiving, and any associated fees or licensing agreements.
● Retraction and corrections: Policies may outline procedures for retracting or correcting published works in the event of errors,
misconduct, or other issues

14. CONFLICT OF INTEREST
● A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization has competing interests that could
potentially influence their ability to make impartial decisions or act in a fair and objective manner. In other
words, a conflict of interest exists when personal or financial gain may compromise one's professional
judgment or duties.
● Conflicts of interest can arise in many different contexts, such as in business, government, and academic
settings. For example, a government official who owns stock in a company that they regulate may be
perceived as having a conflict of interest, as their personal financial gain could potentially influence their
regulatory decisions.
● To avoid conflicts of interest, individuals and organizations may take steps such as disclosing potential
conflicts, recusing themselves from decision-making processes, or establishing policies and procedures
to manage conflicts. It's important to address conflicts of interest in order to maintain integrity and trust in
decision-making processes and to prevent any negative consequences that may arise from potential
biases.

15. REFERENCES
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/conflict-of-interest.asp assessed on 20-03-2023
https://www.nature.com/srep/journal-policies/editorial-policies assessed on 20-03-2023
https://www.springernature.com/gp/policies/publishing-
policies#:~:text=These%20policies%20support%20our%20primary,reusable%20and%20shareable%20as%20possible. assessed on 20-03-2023.
https://www.springernature.com/gp/open-research/journals-books/journals assessed on 20-03-2023
Suber, P. (2012). Open access (p. 256). The MIT Press.
Open Access Directory (OAD). A wiki co-founded by Robin Peek in April 2008. http://oad.simmons.edu
Open Access Tracking Project (OATP). A real-time alert service I launched in April 2009.
http://oad.simmons.edu/oadwiki/OA_tracking_project
SHERPA RoMEO. The best database of journal publisher policies on OA archiving. http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/
Advocacy organizations for OA. A list from the Open Access Directory.
http://oad.simmons.edu/oadwiki/Advocacy_organizations_for_OA
Bailey, Jr., Charles W. 2010. Transforming Scholarly Publishing through Open Access: A Bibliography. Digital Scholarship.
Available in OA and print editions. http://www.digital-scholarship.org/tsp/w/tsp.html