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Aims and scope

Aims and scope

Research Integrity and Peer Review is an international, open access, peer reviewed journal that encompasses all aspects of integrity in research publication, including peer review, study reporting, and research and publication ethics. Particular consideration is given to submissions that address current controversies and limitations in the field and offer potential solutions. We welcome research into peer review and editorial decision making, however reports of individual journal or publisher decisions or actions will not be considered.              

Research and publication ethics
This Section considers manuscripts on all aspects of research and publication ethics, including, but not limited to, the ethics of research designs, ethical approval, consent, authorship and contributorship, competing interests and all forms of research and publication misconduct on the part of authors, reviewers and editors. The Section also welcomes manuscripts focused on the effects of academic reward systems on publication behaviour, journal funding and income sources, and relations between editors and publishers and editorial freedom.           

Research reporting
This Section considers manuscripts investigating the issues relating to research reporting. Manuscripts evaluating interventions to improve the completeness, accuracy and usability of research reports, development, evaluation and implementation of reporting guidelines, prevention of publication bias and selective reporting, and improvement of readability are particularly encouraged. The Section also welcomes studies or constructive discussions on alternatives to academic publishing (such as reporting in research registries) and other novel approaches aimed at increasing the availability, value and reliability of published research.             

Peer review
This Section considers manuscripts reporting research into the peer review of articles for publication (by journals), or presentation (by conferences), and the peer review of grant proposals by funders. Research topics for this section will include: methods of identifying, training and rewarding peer reviewers; mechanisms to reduce bias, such as blinding; novel systems for peer review, such as ‘public review’ and post-publication review; and methods to measure and improve the quality of peer review.