To report data or results that have been made up.
To manipulate or misrepresent an aspect of a study’s methods or results without providing justification.
To use someone else’s words, ideas, or process without giving appropriate credit. Note that this includes your own work: self-plagiarism is when an author uses their own words, ideas or processes without referencing a previous publication.
December 5, 2011 – March 31, 2017 (in Canada)
Fabrication: 3{5f6d7a219622d36be4ac63621a7caa75e437b137f5b614b54ee27f482aed0eb6}
Falsification: 8{5f6d7a219622d36be4ac63621a7caa75e437b137f5b614b54ee27f482aed0eb6}
Plagiarism: 23{5f6d7a219622d36be4ac63621a7caa75e437b137f5b614b54ee27f482aed0eb6}
Self-plagiarism: 8{5f6d7a219622d36be4ac63621a7caa75e437b137f5b614b54ee27f482aed0eb6}
Data obtained from the Secretariat on Responsible Conduct.
Plagiarism is the most reported and confirmed breach of responsible conduct in Canada. Due to software like iThenticate, researchers who plagiarize are very likely to get caught. To ensure you are not accused of plagiarism, be sure to reference all relevant work in your research outputs, this includes referencing your own previously published words. Do not recycle text between your own documents without referencing it. For tips, see “How to avoid being accused of plagiarism“.
Conflicts of interest (COI) refer to “a set of conditions in which professional judgment concerning a primary interest (such as a patient’s welfare or the validity of research) tends to be unduly influenced by a secondary interest (such as financial gain)”1. In principle, COI are not problematic as long as they are managed transparently. COI can take many forms (e.g., personal, professional). Financial conflicts of interest (fCOI) tend to garner the most attention. For more information on fCOI we refer you to the EQUATOR website, which hosts a Financial Conflicts of Interest Checklist for clinical research studies.
COI can take many forms (e.g., personal, professional). Financial conflicts of interest (fCOI) tend to garner the most attention. For more information on fCOI we refer you to the EQUATOR website, which hosts a Financial Conflicts of Interest Checklist for clinical research studies.
Most journals require a COI statement to be made during the submission process. Please read the instructions for authors section of the journal you are submitting to in order to ensure you are compliant. Please remember, COI may be both real and perceived and not reporting a potential COI relationship can raise red flags. The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors maintains a standard COI form that is used by a number of journals.
OHRI has its own conflict of interest policy.
Redundant or duplicate publication is publication of a paper that overlaps substantially with one already published, without clear reference to the previous publication.
To avoid redundant or duplicate publication, when submitting a paper an author should always:
1. Make a full statement to the editor about all submissions and previous reports that might be regarded as redundant or duplicate publication of the same or very similar work.
2. Alert the editor if the work includes subjects about which a previous report has been published. Any such work should be referred to and referenced in the new paper.
3. Include copies of similar previous reports with the submitted paper.
If redundant or duplicate publication is attempted, or occurs without notification, authors should expect editorial action to be taken.
In some instances secondary publication of a paper in another journals is acceptable. Secondary publication of a paper in the same or another language, especially in other countries, may be justifiable, and can be beneficial, provided all of the following conditions are met:
1. The authors have received approval from the editors of both journals (the editor concerned with secondary publication must have access to the primary version).
2. The priority of the primary publication is respected by a publication interval negotiated by both editors with the authors.
3. The paper for secondary publication is intended for a different audience or group of stakeholders; in this case an abbreviated version could be sufficient.
4. The secondary version faithfully reflects the data and interpretations of the primary version.
5. The secondary version informs readers, peers, and documenting agencies that the paper has been published in whole or in part elsewhere—for example, with a note that might read, “This article is based on a study first reported in the [journal title, with full reference]”—and the secondary version cites the primary reference.
6. The title of the secondary publication should indicate that it is a secondary
