How is Integrity in Scholarly Publications Protected?

Integrity in scholarly publications doesn’t just happen. It’s actively protected—by people, processes, and policies designed to detect issues, correct errors, and uphold trust.

Setting the Standard

Everyone has a role to play

At every step in the process of research and communications about its findings, clear expectations help ensure that what gets published can be trusted. Authors, reviewers, institutions, and publishers all contribute — and publishers, in particular, help shape the frameworks and editorial practices that guide responsible communication. By maintaining high standards and supporting transparency, publishers help foster trust in what science produces and shares.

Authors

Authors are expected to report findings accurately, acknowledge others’ work, and disclose contributions and conflicts.

Reviewers

Reviewers offer fair, thoughtful feedback while respecting confidentiality.

Editors & Publishers

Editors and publishers apply consistent ethical policies, investigate concerns, and manage the process from submission to publication.

Institutions and funders

Institutions and funders shape environments that support ethical research and respond when standards are not met.

Research Misconduct & Fraud

Research misconduct undermines the entire scholarly ecosystem—and its effects ripple far beyond academia. When findings are fabricated, data is falsified, or text is plagiarized, the consequences can mislead future research, misinform public policy, and erode public trust in science and scholarship.

Common violations include:
  • Plagiarism (of text, data, or ideas)
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Image and figure manipulation
The industry responds in two ways:
  • Correction of the record through transparent processes like retractions, expressions of concern, and formal corrections.
  • Prevention and accountability via editorial checks, peer review guidelines, whistleblower protections, and institutional oversight.

Publishers, editors, reviewers, and institutions all share responsibility. But maintaining integrity doesn’t just mean identifying bad actors—it also means building a culture of transparency, reproducibility, and ethical awareness at every step of the research lifecycle.

Dive Deeper

COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics): Retraction Guidelines

A definitive reference used across disciplines by publishers and editors. Offers practical guidance on when and how to retract or correct the scholarly record.

AI & Ethics in Publishing

Applying Ethical Standards in a Changing Landscape

The rapid rise of generative AI and automation is reshaping the research landscape—and raising new ethical questions for scholarly communication. Publishers are working across the industry to define shared principles that support both innovation and integrity.

How are publishers handling AI responsibly?

STM’s 2023 paper, Generative AI in Scholarly Communications, offers ethical and practical guidelines for the use of generative AI across the publication process. It includes role-specific considerations for authors, editors, reviewers, vendors, and readers—helping publishers shape responsible policies in a fast-changing landscape.

Download the paper →

While AI tools may support research and writing, they cannot be held accountable for the work they generate. That’s why emerging guidelines emphasize that AI must not be credited as an author. Researchers are encouraged to clearly disclose when and how AI tools were used in the research or manuscript process.

The same tools raising concerns are also being deployed to safeguard the quality of reports on research findings. Publishers increasingly use AI systems to detect image manipulation, flag potential plagiarism, and spot patterns associated with paper mills or fabricated submissions—augmenting, not replacing, editorial review.

AI can support integrity efforts, but it is not a substitute for ethical standards, transparency, and accountability. Publishers, authors, and reviewers alike must approach AI tools critically and responsibly—ensuring that technological advancement strengthens, rather than undermines, trust in scholarly communication.