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Ethics in Publishing: Complexity Science and Human Factors Offer Insights to Develop a Just Culture

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Abstract

While ethics in publishing has been increasingly debated, there seems to be a lack of a theoretical framework for making sense of existing rules of behavior as well as for designing, managing and enforcing such rules. This letter argues that systems-oriented disciplines, such as complexity science and human factors, offer insights into new ways of dealing with ethics in publishing. Some examples of insights are presented. Also, a call is made for empirical studies that unveil the context and details of both retracted papers and the process of writing and publishing academic papers. This is expected to shed light on the complexity of the publication system as well as to support the development of a just culture, in which all participants are accountable.

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Notes

  1. Misconduct in publishing is used in this paper as a broad concept referring to a number of ethical contraventions (e.g. plagiarism, data fabrication, redundant publication, etc.) related to submitted and published scientific papers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DEPROT/UFRGS (Industrial Engineering and Transportation Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul), Av. Osvaldo Aranha, 99, 5. andar, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 90035-190, Brazil

    Tarcisio Abreu Saurin

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  1. Tarcisio Abreu Saurin
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Correspondence to Tarcisio Abreu Saurin.

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Saurin, T.A. Ethics in Publishing: Complexity Science and Human Factors Offer Insights to Develop a Just Culture. Sci Eng Ethics 22, 1849–1854 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-015-9735-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-015-9735-0

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