Ethics of multiple publication

A topic in research methodology

All research has to be informed by a strong sense of ethics.

Research ethics is important in planning and carrying-out research, and also when writing-up.

A study should normally only be published once. That is, the same research – with a particular set of results – should only be published on one occasion. Multiple publication is considered unethical and professional misconduct.

Research journals usually have strict rules about only considering for publication work which is original, and which has not been published previously. Usually publication agreement includes assigning copyright to a publisher, or licensing them to publish the work, such that any subsequent republication could lead to a researcher being subject to legal action.

Single studies?

Researchers have to decide what counts as a single study, and it is sometimes sensible to break up complex research into a number of discreet studies which are published separately. There will likely be some overlap between papers in terms of conceptual framework, methodology – but each paper should have its own research questions and results.

Thesis work

Although theses may be considered published, it is normally accepted (indeed expected) that results should also be reported in the journals or similar outlets. (There may be an issue of whether research form a single-authored thesis should still be considered as having a sole author in terms of journal authorship rules.)

Conferences?

Presenting work at a conference is not normally considered to debar it from being submitted for publication to a journal, BUT this may not be the case if the conference paper is then published in a formal proceedings.

Considerations here may include whether the conference presentation concerns interim/provisional or final results,and whether the proceeding comprise full-length or limited papers.

Chapters?

In most fields in educational research, primary results are usually reported in journals, although some scholarly edited books may be set up as primary sources published research papers. (In these cases, the peer review process is likely to be as rigorous as in research journals.)

However chapters in edited books are often less formal than research journals, and may report published studies (with acknowledgement and full citation to original sources) and discuss them in a wider context than the primary research report.

Books may also contain republished research papers from journals. Usually the permission of the journal is needed (but this is often forthcoming if some time has elapsed form the original publication). Journals may allow authors to publish collections of their own papers (with due acknowledgements to the original publication) without needing further permission – the publishing agreements entered into with journals may allow authors to retain this right and certain others (using published material in classes and conference presentations, for example). However, it is important to check what rights are being signed away, and which ones retained, whenever offering work for publication.

Commentary and developments of work.

There may be occasions when previously published work is represented in a later publication if the later publication draws upon that earlier work and adds to it. As one example the paper: Taber and Tan (2011) compared and discussed results reported in two earlier studies. Both previous papers were clearly acknowledged and cited in the new paper, so that when the new study was submitted for publication, referees asked to undertake peer review could evaluate what was original to the new submission to decide if it merited publication in its own right.

Source cited:

• Taber, K. S., & Tan, K. C. D. (2011). The insidious nature of ‘hard core’ alternative conceptions: Implications for the constructivist research programme of patterns in high school students’ and pre-service teachers’ thinking about ionisation energy. International Journal of Science Education, 33(2), 259-297.