Research Ethics

Research & Publication Ethics

Ethical research is not just about avoiding misconduct; it is about building trust in every result you publish. This page is your starting point for understanding research and publication ethics, with practical resources curated by Academic Publishing Navigator.

Why Research Ethics Matters

Research that ignores ethics can damage careers, waste public funds, and mislead entire fields. Issues such as plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, inappropriate authorship, and undisclosed conflicts of interest undermine the credibility of science.

• Protects the rights and safety of human and animal participants.
• Ensures honesty in data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Preserves public trust in universities, journals, and funding agencies.

Core Principles of Responsible Research

• Honesty: Report methods, data, and results truthfully, without fabrication or manipulation.
• Objectivity: Minimize bias in study design, analysis, interpretation, and peer review.
• Respect for Intellectual Property: Cite all sources properly and avoid plagiarism or duplicate publication.
• Accountability: Take responsibility for all aspects of your work, from planning to post-publication corrections.
• Transparency: Disclose funding, conflicts of interest, and relevant prior publications.

For a concise overview of these principles in the context of journal publishing, explore our articles on unethical research practices and retractions in academic publishing.

Common Forms of Publication Misconduct

• Plagiarism and self-plagiarism – copying text, ideas, or figures without proper attribution.
• Data fabrication and falsification – making up data or selectively omitting inconvenient results.
• Improper authorship – gift, ghost, or guest authorship that misrepresents real contributions.
• Salami slicing – inappropriately splitting one study into multiple minimal papers.
• Peer-review manipulation – suggesting fake reviewers or interfering with the process.

To understand how such issues can lead to retractions, see our Retractions in Academic Publishing article and the FAQ on academic retractions.

Practical Tools for Ethical Publishing

• How to Avoid Plagiarism: A Researcher’s Practical Guide
• The Hidden Cost of Unethical Research Practices
• Researcher’s Pre-Submission Checklist (article view)
• Pre-Submission Checklist (printable/static page)
• Journal Finder: Match your manuscript to suitable journals

How This Page Helps You

Use this hub as your entry point before designing a study, before submitting a manuscript, or when handling issues like authorship disputes, corrections, or retractions. Each linked resource provides concrete examples, checklists, and step-by-step guidance tailored to students, supervisors, and early-career researchers.

This page serves as the central hub for all ethics-related resources on Research Publishing Navigator (rpub.in). Bookmark it whenever you need quick access to guidance on responsible research and publishing.[web:54][web:122]