New Trends in Ethics in Authorship: Responsible Publishing of Scientific Articles, Analysis of Changes in 2025-2026

Ethics is incredibly important for maintaining trust and integrity within the scientific community. As researchers work hard to provide valuable insights in their areas of expertise, it’s essential that they abide by strong ethical standards. Here we will explore why research ethics matter, covering key principles such as data integrity, how to treat research subjects ethically, handling conflicts of interest, navigating ethical challenges in collaborations, and recognizing common unethical practices. By committing to these principles, researchers can create a culture of responsibility that not only improves the quality of their work but also builds public confidence in the scientific process.

1. Research Ethics and Its Significance in the Scientific Community

Research ethics is all about applying core ethical principles to the way we conduct research. It involves the values and norms that guide researchers, ensuring they carry out their work with integrity, respect, and accountability. The role of ethics in science is essential. It builds the trust that exists between researchers, funding organizations, universities, and the public. When ethical standards are neglected, the consequences can be serious, leading to wasted resources, the spread of misinformation, and potential harm to communities. With scientific discoveries increasingly impacting sensitive areas like healthcare, biotechnology, and the environment, having strong ethical guidelines is more important than ever. When we follow the rules, we don’t just protect ourselves and our colleagues, we also protect our readers. We build trust and credibility, which are essential for getting support and resources for our research.

Ethics in authorship of publishing scientific articles search for a balance between acknowledging individual contributions and maintaining the accuracy and validity of the research findings, promoting responsibility and accountability in academic publishing.

Additionally, as research collaborations extend across borders and cultures, creating a shared ethical framework becomes vital. By working together and committing to these values, we can create a community of scientists who respect and trust each other, and ultimately, do research that makes a real difference.

2. Core Principles of Research Ethics

When we conduct research, we’re not just collecting data. We’re working with people’s or animals’ lives, stories, and experiences. That’s why research ethics is so crucial. It’s a set of guidelines that helps us ensure we’re treating participants with respect they deserve. There are several key principles that guide us in our work.

Respect for persons means we recognize the autonomy and dignity of every individual who participates in our research. We believe that people have the right to make informed decisions about their own lives, and that includes deciding whether or not to participate in a research study. That’s why Informed consent is so important. We want to make sure that everyone who participates in our research understands what they’re getting into, and that they’re comfortable with the potential risks and benefits.

But respect for persons is just the beginning. We also strive for beneficence, which means we’re committed to doing good and promoting the well-being of our participants. We want our research to make a positive impact. And we’re careful to minimize harm, because we know that our research can have real-world consequences.

Of course, no research is perfect, and that’s why justice is such an important principle. We want to make sure that the benefits and burdens of our research are distributed fairly.

Scientific validity is also crucial, because we want to make sure that our research is rigorous and reliable. We use sound methodologies and careful analysis to ensure that our findings are accurate and meaningful. And we’re transparent about our methods and results, so that others can learn from our work.

Before we even begin our research, we undergo independent review. This means that experts review our manuscripts to ensure that they meet the highest ethical standards.

We know that the people who participate in our research are trusting us with their personal stories and information, and we take that trust seriously. We should use secure methods to protect their data, and we must ensure their confidentiality and anonymity.

There a many ethical documents and organizations which provide detailed guidelines on conducting rigorous research. The abovementioned principles are indicated in the following main ethical documents:

The Declaration of Helsinki adopted by the World Medical Association in 1964.

The American Psychological Association (APA) Code of Ethics applies broadly to psychology research, emphasizing integrity, accountability, and respect for participants.

The International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) developed in 1996 by the ICH, which provide a harmonized framework for good clinical practice in the conduct of clinical trials.

The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) was established to provide guidance on issues related to publication ethics and it offers resources and tools for publishers, editors, and researchers to navigate ethical dilemmas, such as plagiarism, authorship disputes, and conflicts of interest.

The Institutional Review Board of each institution that reviews research protocols to ensure compliance with research ethics guidelines and regulations.

3. Data Integrity and Honesty

Data integrity refers to the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of data from collection to analysis and publication. Researchers must adhere to ethical standards in order to avoid data fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism, which undermine the foundation of scientific progress.

Data Fabrication and Falsification

Data fabrication involves creating false data or results, while data falsification refers to manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes to produce inaccurate results. Both practices are rude violations of research ethics that can lead to the retraction of published work, damage to reputations, and decrease of public trust in science.

Researchers must implement robust protocols for data management, including diligent record-keeping and adherence to established guidelines relevant to their fields.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism, the unauthorized use or appropriation of someone else’s work, ideas, or expressions without proper citing, is another significant ethical concern in research. It not only undermines the originality of scholarly work but also compromises the integrity of the entire scientific endeavor.

To avoid plagiarism, researchers should include proper citation practices and develop paraphrasing skills. Authors may use plagiarism detection software to ensure their work is free from unethical borrowing.

4. Ethical Treatment of Research Subjects

The treatment of research subjects is critical. To ensure the well-being and safety of main research subjects, authors of the articles must follow strict ethical guidelines. These subjects include:

• Human
• Vulnerable participants under 18
• Animals
• Cell structures

The most important thing about ethical human research is obtaining informed consent, which ensures participants are fully aware of their involvement and the associated risks. Institutions must adhere to strict regulations and ethical standards, including those outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki, which provides guidance for conducting biomedical research involving human subjects.

When it comes to children, the ethical responsibility grows even more significant. Their vulnerability requires extra care, and researchers must thoughtfully weigh the risks and benefits of involving them. Often, parents or guardians are asked for permission.

Animal research also demands following strict ethical standards. Researchers should ensure that animals are treated humanely, provided with comfortable living conditions, and that any procedures are justified to minimize suffering.

Researching special cells like those from embryos or stem cells requires following strict guidelines to ensure they’re used wisely.

Ethical treatment is about respect and empathy. As scientists explore new topics, they must always remember about ethical considerations.

5. Conflicts of Interest

It’s easy to get caught up in situations where our personal and professional interests intersect. This can lead to conflicts of interest, which can create challenges for our relationships and careers.

Conflict of interest should always be disclosed in research articles following specific statements according to the journals’ guidelines.

Types of conflicts of interest include financial, personal, professional, and intellectual.

How to avoid a conflict of interest?

• Identify and disclose potential conflict of interest, even if they seem minor.
• Withdraw from situations where it may be present.
• Consult with supervisors, colleagues, or external experts to navigate it.
• Ensure open communication and transparent decision-making processes.
• Protect confidential information and maintain professional relationships.
• Make decisions based on evidence and expertise, not personal interests.

 

6. Common Unethical Practices

Despite the established ethical frameworks, various unethical practices persist in the scientific community. Awareness of these practices is essential for researchers aiming to uphold ethical standards in their work.

In our previous materials we discussed in detail unethical practices related to authorship (in particular, about authorship criteria, the role and order of authorship, scientific cooperation and co-authorship, etc.).

Ghostwriting happens when someone else writes a paper or significant parts of it, but is not credited as author. This misleads readers about who really contributed to the work and raises serious concerns about transparency in research. Ethics in authorship of publishing scientific articles requires that all individuals who contributed significantly to the research and writing process receive appropriate credit.

Duplicate publication is when researchers publish the same findings in different journals without properly disclosing it. This creates a false impression about how much original research has been done.

Gift authorship or guest authorship is similar but focuses on the practice of assigning authorship to someone who has not contributed to the research. This can occur within professional relationships, where one author may feel obligated to include a mentor. This can happen when someone wants to boost their academic influence without real contributions.

Plagiarism involves taking someone else’s ideas, words, or research without giving proper citation. It’s not just dishonest; it undermines the very foundation of scholarly work.

Data fabrication and falsification are also considered unethical and described above.

Selective reporting occurs when researchers only share data that supports their hypotheses while ignoring evidence that contradicts them. This creates a biased view of the research landscape and misguides future studies.

By raising awareness about these issues, the academic community can work together to preserve the trust and reliability of research works.

7. Unethical Journals’ Behavior

Unethical behavior can be expressed not only by authors of the articles, but also publishers or journals. One big problem is fake scientific journals (predatory or pseudo-journals) that pretend to be real but don’t check the research carefully. This can lead to false or misleading information being shared, which hurts the reputation of honest researchers and makes people trust science less. To fix this, scientists, editors and reviewers should ensure sharing good, trustworthy research. Recently, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) published updated notes under the title “Predatory Journals: What Can We Do to Protect Their Prey?” highlighting the dangers posed by predatory and pseudo-journals.

Besides, several organizations maintain lists, databases, or websites dedicated to identifying and exposing predatory journals. Examples include Think. Check. Submit., and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).

We all should be aware of these fake journals and take steps to avoid them and prioritize quality and transparency. By doing so, we can ensure that scientific research remains a reliable source of knowledge and continues to drive progress, ultimately safeguarding the integrity of science for the future.

8. Consequences of Unethical Authorship

Unethical authorship practices have significant negative effects on the academic and research communities. These practices undermine trust among researchers, institutions, and readers. When authorship doesn’t reflect real contributions, it leads to skepticism about research findings. This situation can make it hard for scholars to find reliable studies. A thorough ethical review process is crucial in detecting and preventing unethical authorship, ensuring that research contributions are accurately attributed and that studies are conducted with integrity.

Moreover, those involved in unethical authorship can face serious consequences, such as having their papers retracted, losing funding, and damaging their reputations. Researchers caught in unethical behaviors may be fined by their institutions, risking their jobs and academic opportunities. Unethical authorship threatens the progress of knowledge and innovation, highlighting the need for strict adherence to ethical standards in research.