In 2013, it became apparent that the publication-ethics cases being brought to COPE for discussion and advice were becoming more complex. A new and more comprehensive classification scheme was therefore developed to make it easier to code cases, to aid searching, and to provide a finer level of detail for analysis. The resulting COPE Case Taxonomy comprises 18 main classification categories and 100 keywords and is designed to be descriptive not judgemental.
All the cases in COPE’s database were recoded and all new cases are being coded according to the new taxonomy (up to two classifications, denoting the main topics discussed, and 10 keywords can be assigned per case). It is important to note that classification and keyword coding denotes that a topic was raised and discussed, not that a particular form of publication misconduct had occurred.
The COPE Case Taxonomy is available, with appropriate attribution, for use by other organizations and individuals. Attribution should include the version date and number, and a link to the taxonomy on COPE’s website.
For further information see:
COPE Case Taxonomy — Irene Hames
(Presented at the COPE European Seminar 2014)
Download presentation [PDF 552kB] | Watch presentation [14:19]
Publication Ethics: 16 years of COPE — Irene Hames, Charon A Pierson, Natalie E Ridgeway and Virginia Barbour
(Presented at the 7th International Congress on Peer Review and Biomedical Publication, 8–10 September 2013, Chicago, USA)
Download presentation [PDF 552kb]
Classifications are in capitals, keywords in lowercase, descriptions in italics.
AUTHORSHIP
Involves any aspect of authorship
Authorship
Changes in authorship
When changes to the authorship list are requested or made, after either submission or publication.
Disputed authorship
When there is disagreement about any aspect of authorship, e.g. who should be listed and order of listing.
Ghost authorship
When someone who should/deserves to be listed as an author is omitted on a submission or publication.
Gift authorship
When someone who has made little/no contribution to a research project/manuscript is included as an author on a submission or publication.
Questionable authorship practice
Dubious behaviour, e.g. making inclusion as an author dependent on something not linked to the project, depriving someone of appropriate listing.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The existence of factors, situations or relationships that might inappropriately influence (bias), positively or negatively, a person’s actions.
Conflict of interest
Conflict of interest (author)
Conflict of interest (editor)
Includes any person with high-level editorial and decision-making responsibilities.
Conflict of interest (journal)
Includes (1) journal-associated individuals and staff, and (2) when journals don't have appropriate systems for ensuring people with conflicts of interest
are not included in editorial decisions.
Conflict of interest (reviewer)
CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION
Permission/lack of to publish variety of things (personal details, other information, data, case report, article).
Consent for publication
Consent for publication (author)
Consent for publication (institution)
Consent for publication (participant)
Consent for publication (supervisor)
CONTRIBUTORSHIP
Involves any aspect of contributorship.
Contributorship
Changes in contributorship
When changes to the contributorship list or individual contributions are requested or made, after either submission or publication.
Disputed contributorship
When there is disagreement about any aspect of contributorship, e.g. who should be listed, actual contribution/s, order of listing.
Ghost contributorship
When someone who should/deserves to be listed as an contributor is omitted on a submission or publication.
Gift contributorship
When someone who has made little/no contribution to a research project/manuscript is included as a contributor on a submission or publication.
Questionable contributorship practice
Dubious behaviour, e.g. making inclusion as a contributor dependent on something not linked to the project, depriving someone of appropriate listing.
COPYRIGHT
Involves any aspect of copyright.
Copyright
Copyright disputes/breaches
When there is disagreement about copyright or breaches are involved.
CORRECTION OF THE LITERATURE
Involves all discussion and categories of correction of the literature.
Correction of the literature
Correction of the literature, corrections
Correction of the literature, corrigenda & errata
Corrigenda are corrections due to author errors, errata are due to journal/publisher ones.
Correction of the literature, disputes
When various parties can’t agree on either whether a correction is needed or what kind of correction is needed; also when they refuse to correct.
Correction of the literature, expressions of concern
Correction of the literature, retractions
DATA
Includes data, results, materials, and also submission/publication-associated documents, e.g. consent and copyright forms.
Data
Data fabrication
Making up research details/findings/documents.
Data falsification
Altering research details/findings/documents.
Data integrity
When there is data falsification or fabrication, also mistakes/problems leading to data problems.
Data manipulation
Issues to do with handling and changing of data.
Data misappropriation/theft
Data ownership
Data, selective/misleading reporting/interpretation
Data or information omitted/misreported to mislead/fit a theory, desired outcome, etc.
Data, sharing
Data, unauthorized use
Image manipulation
Includes all changes to original images, whether appropriate or inappropriate; also image duplication.
EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE
Restriction of editorial freedom/decision making or undue influence by an outside agency.
Editorial independence
Publisher role
Appropriate and inappropriate intervention/influence by a publisher in editorial matters/decisions.
Relation to society/owner
Concerns about editor's relationship to journal owner/parent organization (e.g. incentive schemes that create conflicts of interest).
FUNDING/SPONSORSHIP
All issues to do with funding or sponsorship of either the research/researchers or any of the individuals/practices/content of the journal.
Funding/sponsorship
Financial support disclosure (publication)
Financial support disclosure (research)
Funder/sponsor role
Inappropriate involvement or intervention in any part of the research or its publication; failure to disclose role.
Funding/sponsorship concerns
METRICS
Ways of assessing/measuring ‘impact’ of research output/people including but beyond just Impact Factor (e.g. altmetrics, citations, downloads, social media).
Impact Factor
Impact Factor manipulation
Metrics
Metrics (article)
Metrics (author)
Metrics (journal)
MISCELLANEOUS
Books
Social media
Legal issues
MISCONDUCT/QUESTIONABLE BEHAVIOUR
Misconduct/questionable behaviour
Misconduct/questionable behaviour (author)
Misconduct/questionable behaviour (editor)
Editor acting in way that contravenes COPE Code of Conduct for Journal Editors.
Misconduct/questionable behaviour (institution)
Misconduct/questionable behaviour (journal)
Misconduct/questionable behaviour (publisher)
Misconduct/questionable behaviour (reviewer)
Misconduct/questionable behaviour (society/journal owner)
Misconduct sanctions
MISTAKES
What appear to be honest errors or where benefit of doubt has to be given.
Mistakes
Mistakes (author)
Mistakes (editor)
Mistakes (institution)
Mistakes (journal)
Mistakes (publisher)
Mistakes (reviewer)
Mistakes (society/journal owner)
PEER REVIEW
Involving any aspect peer review.
Peer review
Editorial decisions
Concern/complaint that decision/s not being made fairly/ethically (e.g. editor's potential conflict of interest not being handled appropriately
or decisions being unduly influenced by commercial considerations); questions regarding decisions or policy.
Peer-review process
Concern/complaint about a journal's peer-review process or components of that process (e.g. creates conflicts of interest,
is unfair or inadequate, introduces bias, is unethical).
Post-publication peer review
PLAGIARISM
Taking/using/presenting others’ ideas, data/results, writings and inventions without giving due or appropriate credit to the originator.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism (published article)
Plagiarism (submitted article)
'Self-plagiarism'/text recycling (published article)
Reusing one’s own previous writing without being transparent about this or appropriately referencing/quoting from the original.
'Self-plagiarism'/text recycling (submitted article)
Reusing one’s own previous writing without being transparent about this or appropriately referencing/quoting from the original.
QUESTIONABLE/UNETHICAL RESEARCH
Questionable/unethical research
Ethical review/approval
All issues and aspects of research ethical approval, e.g. whether by appropriate and independent review bodies, with appropriate/adequate processes.
Participant consent
In the research (consent for publication is in a separate classification above), failing to obtain fully informed consent or where voluntary
participation/freedom to withdraw cannot be ensured.
Participant confidentiality
Respecting the right of individuals to have their personal details/data treated in confidence.
Protection of subject (animal)
With respect to treatments and adherence to recognized standards.
Protection of subject (human)
Protection of research participants from potential hazards/detriments to them of taking part in the research.
Questionable/unethical treatments
Administering questionable procedures (e.g. failing to inform of potential risks, that treatment experimental/unapproved).
Research integrity
Of the research, materials, procedures, etc; breaches may involve ethical issues but may also result from mistakes or equipment malfunction.
Research integrity/ethics investigations
Involving investigations at institutions or by official bodies on the integrity/soundness/ethics of the research done.
REDUNDANT/DUPLICATE PUBLICATION
The publication, or attempted publication, of whole or substantial parts of work/data/analysis that have already been published (or have been submitted elsewhere), without transparency or appropriate declaration/referencing.
Redundant/duplicate publication
Multiple submissions
Submission of identical manuscripts or those with substantial overlap to more than one journal/publication venue at a time.
Prior publication
Where a journal considers posting of data or a pre-print before submission as 'publication', and which will therefore exclude those
items from subsequent submission to the journal. Grey and rapidly changing area, varies greatly from journal to journal.
Redundant/duplicate publication, translations
WHISTLEBLOWERS
Individuals who make allegations about potential research or publication misconduct, either privately or publicly, and anonymously or not.
Whistleblowers
Whistleblowers, emails
Whistleblowers, responding to