Objectives:
To give participants a broad understanding of the issues involved in publication ethics and of the roles of journal editors, publishers, authors and reviewers in achieving best practice and to understand how Cochrane review groups can ensure ethical publication processes.
Description:
Cochrane reviews rely, to a large extent, on reports of trials published in peer-reviewed medical journals. If this evidence base is unreliable or misleading, it has important implications for people preparing systematic reviews. Cochrane review groups also use peer review themselves and review authors may also be subject to journal peer review if they seek to publish reviews elsewhere. An understanding of publication ethics is therefore important. This workshop will be based on the recently published "Best Practice Guidelines on Publication Ethics: A Publisher's Perspective." Graf C, Wager E, Bowman A et al. Int J Clin Pract 2007;61 s1520:1-26. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1742-1241.2006.01230.x
With reference to this paper, and other relevant guidelines, we will discuss the meaning of publication ethics and factors that may foster ethical behaviour or create problems. Topics covered will include: promoting ethical publication practices; transparency; editorial standards and processes; responsible publication practices; and ownership of ideas and expression. We will consider how these concepts are important and relevant to Cochrane contributors and how they should be applied in the Cochrane publishing environment.