Committee on Publication Ethics
Encyclopedia
The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) is a nonprofit organization
whose mission
is to define best practice in the ethics
of scholarly publishing
and to assist editor
s, publishers
, etc. to achieve this.
s and publisher
s on all aspects of publication ethics and, in particular, how to handle cases of research and publication misconduct
. It also provides a forum for its members to discuss individual cases (meeting four times a year in the UK and once a year in North America). COPE does not investigate individual cases but encourages editors to ensure that cases are investigated by the appropriate authorities (usually a research institution
or employer
).
COPE also funds research
on publication ethics, publishes a quarterly newsletter and organises annual seminars in the United Kingdom and the United States. Besides, COPE has created an audit
tool for members to measure compliance with its Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines.
. Now it has over 6000 members worldwide, from all academic fields. Membership is open to editors of academic journal
s and others interested in publication ethics
.
COPE's first guidelines were developed after discussion at the COPE meeting in April 1999 and were published as Guidelines on Good Publication Practice in the Annual Report in 1999. On their basis, in 2004, the first edition of Code of Conduct for Editors was drafted. The draft underwent wide consultation with COPE Council as well as editors and publishers. The Code was published on the first COPE website in November 2004, with an Editorial in the BMJ
. The Code was later revised and improved, and other guidance was also issued to aid editors and publishers in the fight against research and publication misconduct (scientific misconduct
).
to adjudicate disputes between COPE members or between them and the organisation. The day-to-day running of COPE is handled by the Operations Manager and Administrator.
, the European Association of Science Editors
, the International Society of Managing and Technical Editors and the World Association of Medical Editors
.
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
whose mission
Mission statement
A mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making...
is to define best practice in the ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
of scholarly publishing
Academic publishing
Academic publishing describes the subfield of publishing which distributes academic research and scholarship. Most academic work is published in journal article, book or thesis form. The part of academic written output that is not formally published but merely printed up or posted is often called...
and to assist editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
s, publishers
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
, etc. to achieve this.
Mission
COPE provides advice to editorEditing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
s and publisher
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
s on all aspects of publication ethics and, in particular, how to handle cases of research and publication misconduct
Misconduct
A misconduct is a legal term meaning a wrongful, improper, or unlawful conduct motivated by premeditated or intentional purpose or by obstinate indifference to the consequences of one's acts....
. It also provides a forum for its members to discuss individual cases (meeting four times a year in the UK and once a year in North America). COPE does not investigate individual cases but encourages editors to ensure that cases are investigated by the appropriate authorities (usually a research institution
Research institute
A research institute is an establishment endowed for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research...
or employer
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
).
COPE also funds research
Scientific method
Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of...
on publication ethics, publishes a quarterly newsletter and organises annual seminars in the United Kingdom and the United States. Besides, COPE has created an audit
Audit
The general definition of an audit is an evaluation of a person, organization, system, process, enterprise, project or product. The term most commonly refers to audits in accounting, but similar concepts also exist in project management, quality management, and energy conservation.- Accounting...
tool for members to measure compliance with its Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines.
Selected publications
- COPE flowcharts
- Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors
- Code of Conduct for Journal Publishers
- Ethical Editing Newsletter
- Guidelines for retracting articles
- A Short Guide to Ethical Editing for New Editors
- How to handle authorship disputes:a guide for new researchers
History
COPE was established in 1997 by a small group of medical journal editors in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Now it has over 6000 members worldwide, from all academic fields. Membership is open to editors of academic journal
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
s and others interested in publication ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
.
COPE's first guidelines were developed after discussion at the COPE meeting in April 1999 and were published as Guidelines on Good Publication Practice in the Annual Report in 1999. On their basis, in 2004, the first edition of Code of Conduct for Editors was drafted. The draft underwent wide consultation with COPE Council as well as editors and publishers. The Code was published on the first COPE website in November 2004, with an Editorial in the BMJ
BMJ
BMJ is a partially open-access peer-reviewed medical journal. Originally called the British Medical Journal, the title was officially shortened to BMJ in 1988. The journal is published by the BMJ Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Medical Association...
. The Code was later revised and improved, and other guidance was also issued to aid editors and publishers in the fight against research and publication misconduct (scientific misconduct
Scientific misconduct
Scientific misconduct is the violation of the standard codes of scholarly conduct and ethical behavior in professional scientific research. A Lancet review on Handling of Scientific Misconduct in Scandinavian countries provides the following sample definitions: *Danish definition: "Intention or...
).
Structure
COPE is run by a governing Council whose members are trustees of the charity. COPE has an independent OmbudsmanOmbudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
to adjudicate disputes between COPE members or between them and the organisation. The day-to-day running of COPE is handled by the Operations Manager and Administrator.
Links with other organizations
It also has links with the Council of Science EditorsCouncil of Science Editors
The Council of Science Editors is a nonprofit professional membership organization. CSE's mission is to serve editorial professionals in the sciences by creating a supportive network for career development, providing educational opportunities, and developing resources for identifying and...
, the European Association of Science Editors
European Association of Science Editors
The ' is a non-profit membership organisation for people interested in science communication and editing. Founded in 1982, in France, EASE now has an international membership from diverse backgrounds and professional experience....
, the International Society of Managing and Technical Editors and the World Association of Medical Editors
World Association of Medical Editors
The World Association of Medical Editors or WAME is a nonprofit voluntary association of editors of peer-reviewed medical journals from countries throughout the world, established in 1995...
.
See also
- EASE Guidelines for Authors and Translators of Scientific ArticlesEASE Guidelines for Authors and Translators of Scientific ArticlesThe EASE Guidelines for Authors and Translators of Scientific Articles to be Published in English were first published by the European Association of Science Editors in 2010. An updated version appeared in June 2011...
- United States Office of Research IntegrityUnited States Office of Research IntegrityThe Office of Research Integrity is one of the bodies concerned with research integrity in the United States. It was created when the Office of Scientific Integrity in the National Institutes of Health and the Office of Scientific Integrity Review in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for...