Undisclosed conflict of interest in a submitted manuscript - updated flowchart with reference to the COPE retraction guidelines. More seminar news...
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COPE Digest
JULY 2021, Vol 9
Issue 5: Conflicts of interest | COPE seminar
Welcome to the July issue of COPE Digest.
Here we are, just past the halfway point of the year and the pandemic persists. We have seen great progress holding off COVID-19 in some regions of the world while others slide back as new strains appear. The UK is gearing up to remove COVID-19 based restrictions this month in an attempt to return to normal. But what is the new normal? Flexible work arrangements are becoming the norm and some companies have simply shifted away from centralised offices. And yet, COPE’s work continues.
I am pleased to announce that this year’s COPE Seminar ([link removed]) will take place virtually from September 27 to October 1. The theme is “Together shaping the future of publication ethics”. Timely topics such as paper mills, data sharing, diversity, equity, and inclusion, authorship, and ethics in book publishing will be tackled in a mix of webinars and workshops throughout the week. This is not to be missed and the content will be useful for everyone. Registration for the individual sessions will open soon.
COPE has been very busy as our volunteers continue to update and produce new guidance and resources. This month the updated flowchart Undisclosed conflict of interest in a published article ([link removed]) is published. We will soon see guidance on “Editing of peer reviews”. “Editing of peer reviews” is a companion to the discussion document Who ‘owns’ peer reviews? ([link removed]) and reinforces the understanding that reviews should be the result of cooperative work between the editor and reviewer.
New guidance on “Editorial board participation” will be published in August. As new journals continue to be introduced, demands on researchers to sit on editorial boards increases steadily. This guidance should help journals to better understand the possible conflicts of interests that could exist and the appropriate questions to ask before deciding if it is appropriate for any individual to be a member of more than one editorial board at the same time.
The Text Recycling Research Project has released new guidelines for researchers recycling their own text...
READ MORE ([link removed]) >
COPE Chair, Dan Kulp
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UNDISCLOSED CONFLICT OF INTEREST, UPDATE
The COPE flowcharts are consistently rated by members as being among the most useful and frequently consulted COPE resources. The most recent flowchart to have been updated is now available: undisclosed conflict of interest in a published article ([link removed]) .
The updates concern an editorial office’s investigation of previously undisclosed potential conflicts of interest that come to light after an article has been published. At the time of manuscript submission, an author may have declared the absence of potential conflicts of interest or may have disclosed only a partial or inaccurate list.
The previous flowchart, similar to the flowchart: what to do if a reviewer suspects undisclosed conflict of interest (Col) in a submitted manuscript ([link removed]) , recommended that editors collect any missing or corrected conflict of interest statements and then amend the relevant declaration in the paper.
The declaration of potential conflicts of interest in scholarly publications follows the operating principles of transparency and accountability. Honest declarations ensure that readers are fully informed of the context and any potential biases when they read and make decisions based on written material.
When missing conflicts of interest are discovered after publication, a published article might need correction or even retraction.
READ MORE ([link removed]) >
In the News
** LATEST PUBLICATION ETHICS NEWS
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This month the news includes articles on reproducibility, paper mills, artificial intelligence, and more
* New guidance from the Text Recycling Research Project on self-citation, often referred to as "self-plagiarism", for authors and editors.
* #IdentityInPeerReview is the theme of Peer Review Week, 20-24 September 2021.
* As part of a group of initiatives by the Indian University Grants Commission to address global concerns raised about the quality of papers published all researchers are required to take a course on Research and Publication Ethics.
READ MORE NEWS ([link removed]) >
VOLUNTEER WITH COPE
We are seeking applications from members interested in serving on COPE Council. We particularly welcome applications from China, South America and South Asia. We also welcome candidates with a background in arts, humanities, computer science, and technology.
Closing date: Friday 23 July
READ MORE AND APPLY ([link removed]) >
COPE SEMINAR 2021
27 September - 1 October 2021
(COPE members only)
We are hosting a virtual COPE Seminar with sessions on authorship, artificial intelligence, data, diversity equity & inclusion, books publishing, paper mills, retractions and more.
READ MORE ([link removed]) >
COORDINATING MULTI-JOURNAL COMPLAINTS AND NEW CASES
Catch up with the June Forum topic discussion: When and how to involve multiple journals and publishers in dealing with complaints from whistleblowers
READ DISCUSSION SUMMARY ([link removed]) >
Four new cases were brought to the Forum by members, for discussion and advice: ethics consent, two dois for the same manuscript, unresponsive authors and manuscript based on retracted article.
READ CASES ([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 our September COPE Forum.
SUBMIT YOUR CASE ([link removed]) >
Visit our events page for notices on upcoming events which include discussions on publication ethics issues.
* Trevor Lane, COPE Council, will present to the First J-STAGE Seminar, organised by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, on the fundamental principles of peer review and peer review ethics.
* Dan Kulp, COPE Chair, is invited to speak at the Fourth World STM Journal Forum, organised by the Chinese Association of Science and Technology, July 2021, publication ethics in an open world, July 2021.
* Dan has also been invited to speak at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Seminar, on the new trends and issues in international publication ethics and COPE’s recommendations, September 2021.
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** COPE Digest Editors:
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Nancy C Chescheir, MD, Emeritus Editor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Deborah Kahn, COPE Trustee
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