JOINSTM commissions study to explore how publishers support research integrity
Research communications today face growing, coordinated threats to their integrity—from paper mills and manipulated peer review to systemic pressures that can compromise trust. In response, STM’s Research Integrity Committee has commissioned Research Consulting to map how publishing organisations across the sector are working to safeguard the scholarly record.
In recent years, publishers have retracted thousands of articles (source: Retraction Watch Database), citing issues that range from honest error to deliberate misconduct. Strengthening research integrity has become an urgent, system-wide priority.
Governments, funders, and academic institutions have introduced measures to support integrity—such as transparency requirements and the use of persistent identifiers like ORCID.
Understanding the role of publishers in this broader ecosystem is essential for developing coordinated responses. Faced with a rise in bad actors, publishers have adopted a range of strategies. Industry-wide initiatives such as the STM Integrity Hub and United2Act are taking practical and collaborative steps to address the drivers of research integrity misconduct.
Why this research matters
While some publishers have made their approaches visible, many efforts remain within professional circles. As a result, there is no sector-wide overview of publisher-supported practices, limiting opportunities to identify what works and address gaps. The publishing community – including the full spectrum of commercial publishers, non-profit publishers, university presses and more – is especially interested in understanding how best to collaborate with other stakeholders to protect the integrity of the scholarly record. This project aims to map integrity practices across different types of publishing organisations, whether directly led or as collaboration across publishers or with other stakeholders. The research will examine both established protocols adopted sector-wide and approaches to implementation that may be specific to certain disciplines or types of publishers.
Methodology and scope
Research Consulting will combine desk research with interviews of publisher Research Integrity leads. The study will explore strategic drivers but also practical aspects, including:
- Pre-publication screening and quality control processes
- Technology adoption for integrity checks
- Investigation procedures and post-publication actions
- Collaboration with other stakeholders
- Resource allocation and organisational structures
The findings will be compiled into a public report, featuring case studies that illustrate a range of approaches to upholding high levels of research integrity. STM hopes that this effort will support researchers, funders, academic institutions and policymakers as they continue working together to maintain the standard of quality expected by the research community and beyond.
Get involved
If your organisation has developed integrity initiatives or if you have insights about publisher practices, we welcome your contribution. Please complete our form to contribute to this sector-wide mapping exercise.
The public report is expected in late 2025 – sign up for STM’s updates or follow us on LinkedIn or Bluesky to be notified when this is published.