What?

The aim of this website is to take inventory of scientific publications for which research misconduct has been assessed. Research misconduct in publications include:

• Data-related misconduct : falsification, fabrication and plagiarism
• Publication-related misconduct : non respect of editorial policies and standards
• Research practice misconduct : unethical treatment of research subjects

For more details, please refer to the Red cards categories section.

What for?

Ultimately, the aim of this enterprise is to promote a responsible conduct of research. Scientific integrity is essential for the efficiency and the quality of research, but also for maintaining public’s trust in science. Publications constitute the references research builds upon, and the data governments can refer to when facing issues with a scientific component. Easily available information about the quality of publications, in terms of scientific integrity, should therefore benefit both to the scientific community and the society. By highlighting papers in the literature that do not respect essential rules in research conduct, we aim at raising awareness among scientists that misconducts are not to be overlooked, and at encouraging readers to remain vigilant about the reliability of publications.

How?

• Publications recorded on this website are necessarily accompanied by a reference to the verdict/proof assessing the misconduct.
• The list does not intend to be exhaustive.
• The inventory focuses on publications that show scientific misconduct, and not on the author(s) responsible for the misconduct.
• The list can be enriched by anyone who reports a publication and the assessment of the corresponding misconduct by using our form.
• Comments about publications are most welcome to discuss the case or add information.

Disclosure

Please note that the authors of this website cannot be accused of whistle-blowing, since they cannot be hold responsible for the content of linked pages assessing misconducts.