Abstract
Trustworthy literature is an essential part of knowledge, evidence-based information, and science. However, publications can contain mistakes or have results from unreliable research, which may compromise their integrity. In this review, we discuss publication integrity, with a focus on our field of biomedicine, and how it could be improved. In our experience, compromised publication integrity is frequently poorly handled, and we, and others, have reported that responses to publication integrity concerns can be inefficient, inconsistent, slow, opaque, and incomplete. Checklists and tools are now available to assist in the assessment of publication integrity, but systemic changes are needed. However, this requires many of the key parties involved (journals, publishers, institutions, academic societies, and regulators) to acknowledge and engage with the problem. There is little evidence of a willingness to do this. We conclude that it has been recognised for many years that the system for dealing with publication integrity is broken, but currently, there appears little interest in trying to improve it.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand |
| Early online date | 13 Mar 2024 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 13 Mar 2024 |
Bibliographical note
All authors have had extensive involvement and discussions about the topic for more than a decade. MB did the literature review and drafted the article. AA and AG critically reviewed and improved it. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.Keywords
- errors
- expression of concern
- fabrication
- fraud
- Publication integrity
- questionable research practices
- research integrity
- retraction