COPE Digest April 2020: Adapting to change
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COPE Digest
APRIL 2020, Vol 8
Issue 4: Adapting to change
Welcome to the April issue of COPE Digest.
COPE, like many organisations, is grappling with the impact of the coronavirus. There is worldwide concern over COVID-19 and its impact on our daily lives, both personal and professional. Journal editors may be unsure of what to do in this unprecedented situation. How is COVID-19 affecting editors and publishers?
Circumstances will differ for different regions, disciplines, journals and individuals. For some, COVID-19 brings more work while others find themselves with time to spare. Some journals will see increased submissions while others will see a drop. Many researchers may be operating almost normally; with more free time—often confined to home—researchers may take advantage to reflect on their work and may be busy writing and submitting papers ([link removed]) . Some editors of health and social care journals are being called on for additional work duties and therefore have less time to run a journal. Outside the health field, the pressure may be lighter, but some will be struggling with adjustments in teaching and evaluation requirements. Some may find their time for journal work is constrained because they are parents of children who are now at home. Others are actively asking to receive more manuscripts as a
distraction from COVID-19.
The important thing is to acknowledge the circumstances, and show understanding so that those who do have concerns will feel reassured. Simple acknowledgement can go a long way, followed by clarification that for many researchers worldwide it is close to business as usual. Fortunately, many editors can continue their job safely online, and now more than ever it is important to keep the scholarly community going, sharing knowledge, and ensuring papers continue to be submitted, reviewed and published. Some publishers have written a sensitive response to editors reflecting understanding and encouraging flexibility while, in turn, there are editors whose letters to authors have an attachment saying they understand that these are challenging times. It is important to have a sense of normality to the extent it is safe and sensible to do so.
Should editors relax reviewer deadlines? Are editors feeling under pressure to make rapid decisions about the COVID-19 papers they are receiving...
READ MORE ([link removed]) >
COPE Chair, Deborah Poff
COPE Forum
** ADVICE ON NEW CASES
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The cases presented at the COPE Forum on Friday 6 March 2020, together with the advice given and updates on previous cases, are now on the COPE website.
New cases:
20-01 Institution refuses to investigate scientific issues ([link removed])
20-02 Institution wants to retract despite ongoing legal proceedings ([link removed])
20-03 Allegations related to multiple papers and journals ([link removed])
20-04 Sharing by a reviewer on social media ([link removed])
Updates on existing cases:
19-11 Withdrawal of paper at proof stage ([link removed])
19-12 Appropriate scope of review for retractions ([link removed])
19-13 Reproducibility of methodology ([link removed])
19-14 Removal of an author ([link removed])
SUBMIT A CASE
COPE Members: if you have a publication ethics issue you're currently dealing with and need advice from other COPE members, you can submit your case for discussion and advice at the next forum on Tuesday 2 June 2020.
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** WE'RE LOOKING FOR NEW TRUSTEES
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We are seeking applications for two vacancies on the COPE Trustee Board as we look to expand into new areas. We have therefore highlighted gaps on the Trustee Board which we are keen to fill.
We are specifically seeking:
* candidates with extensive experience and a proven record in open access publishing
* candidates with in depth knowledge and experience of working with monographs, books, conference proceedings, theses, etc.
In accordance with COPE’s constitution, the candidate, or the organisation they represent, must have been an ordinary member of COPE for at least 1 year.
MORE INFORMATION AND APPLY ([link removed]) >
UPDATE YOUR DETAILS
Have your contact details changed?
Do you have new staff at your journal?
Update the contact details for your journal on our website and ensure you and your colleagues can access all COPE resources.
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THANK YOU AND FAREWELL
We say a fond farewell to David Ginley COPE Council Member, who has reached the end of his term with COPE. David is Research Fellow/Chief Scientist, Materials and Chemical Science and Technology Directorate, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA.
Thank you David for all the work you've done for COPE over the years.
** WELCOME TO NEW COPE COUNCIL MEMBERS
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Following our recent elections, we're delighted to welcome six new Council Members to COPE.
Each of our Council members brings their own experience, knowledge and skills to help us all work towards improving ethical practice in the publication of research in our community.
* Eleanor Gendle, Executive Editor at The Institution of Engineering and Technology, UK
* Iain Hay, Matthew Flinders Distinguished Emeritus Professor of human geography in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Flinders University, Australia
* Matt Hodgkinson, Head of Research Integrity, Hindawi, UK
* Ana Marusic, Editor, Journal of Global Health; Professor at School of Medicine, University of Split, Croatia
* Jigisha Patel, Independent research integrity consultant, UK
* Marie Soulière, Head of Publishing Operations, Frontiers, Switzerland
READ MORE ([link removed]) >
In the News
** PUBLICATION ETHICS IN THE NEWS
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This month COPE Council members have gathered news items that include articles on diversity and inclusion, preprints, research culture and coronavirus. Here are just a few:
* In a study of gender bias in 145 journals in various areas of research, the authors show that in biomedicine and health women authors were treated generally favourably by editors and reviewers. This is in contrast to social science and humanity journals. The authors advocate for gender diversity among reviewers and editors to mitigate the perception and reality of bias.
* Wellcome commissioned a review of research culture, including literature review, qualitative interviews and surveys. This report,"What Researchers Think About the Culture they work in" explores the findings.
* Fundamental characteristics of open science do not translate to "open humanities". Marcel Knöchelmann argues that researchers in the humanities should develop a unified voice and vision for open humanities, without which they will be vulnerable to top-down reforms.
* As the Coronavirus pandemic further develops, the role of open science is coming to the fore: an editorial in Nature urged researchers to “keep sharing, stay open”.
READ MORE ([link removed]) >
Other Events
ISMPP WEBINAR: COVID-19 AND PUBLICATION PLANNING
Wednesday 29 April 2020
WEBINAR
The International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP) is planning a special 90 minute webinar on the impact the Coronavirus pandemic is having on medical publication planning. The webinar is free to all to attend.
MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTER ([link removed]) >
** COPE Digest Editor:
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Nancy C Chescheir, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Obstetrics and Gynecology
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