Navigating ethical challenges in academic publishing
Expert advice from a journal editor
As an editor, David Hundt has encountered his fair share of ethical challenges in academic publishing. From conflicts of interest to the appropriate use of emerging technologies like AI, the decisions he’s had to make are rarely black and white.
David is a political economist renowned for his expertise in Australia’s economic and security relations with South Korea. He’s the president of the Asian Studies Association of Australia and serves as a deputy editor of the Asian Studies Review journal.
In this post, David shares his experiences and insights on ethical issues in publishing, with practical advice for anyone navigating this complex landscape.
1. Common ethical issues in publishing
Journal editors often face ethical dilemmas that test the integrity of the publishing process. Some of the most common issues David has encountered include:
Attempts to influence editorial independence such as financial incentives, creation of potential and actual conflicts of interest, or attempts to bypass the peer review process.
Conflicts of interest, like reviewers failing to disclose prior knowledge of authors or their work.
Duplicitous behaviors, including plagiarism, problematic treatment of authorship, or misuse of generative AI tools.
David’s advice to researchers is simple: transparency is key, and make sure you’re following best practices for ethical research. When in doubt, apply the ‘tell your grandmother’ test: if your Nana thinks that something you’re doing is wrong, it probably is.
2. Real-life ethical dilemmas and resolutions
David has faced some very tough decisions, including approving a change in authorship that technically violated the rules, but ultimately protected the author’s safety and freedom.
This experience taught David the importance of:
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3. Addressing cultural sensitivity and representation
David believes that when working with authors on politically or culturally sensitive topics, the best approach is to draw on regional and local expertise while presenting findings in a way that resonates with the widest possible audience.
For example, authors can:
Highlight dominant interpretations while acknowledging alternative viewpoints.
Consider issues so that they make sense to non-specialist readers.
Identify sensitivities and the reasons for them while not treating these as a barrier to debate and the sharing of ideas.
By fostering nuanced debates, we can promote a broader and deeper understanding of complex issues without overstating them.
4. Avoiding ethical pitfalls
New researchers can fall into ethical traps simply because they aren’t aware of current best practices. David’s advice is to:
Treat academic publishing as an exercise in evidence-based persuasion, which implies recourse to transparency, self-awareness, and objectivity.
Make sure you’re aware of best practices and recent developments in research ethics. Stay informed by exploring resources from publishers, COPE, and your institution’s review boards.
Seek guidance from mentors but remember that senior colleagues may not always be up to date with recent developments.
5. The role of AI in publishing ethics
Generative AI is transforming academic publishing, but it’s not without its challenges. While AI can improve the clarity of writing, particularly for non-native English speakers, its misuse could undermine the integrity of the research process. In David’s view:
AI can be a support tool: Not a substitute for original research, AI can help with grammar, structure, and language clarity, but it shouldn’t be used to draft articles or generate data.
Comprehensive guidelines are vital: for making sure AI use is ethical. Journals must clearly define acceptable applications, such as editing and proofreading, while restricting its use for research creation or data generation.
Transparency is key: Authors must disclose any use of AI in their submissions, ensuring accountability and maintaining the credibility of the peer-review process.
Usefulness for editors and reviewers: While AI tools might be helpful when drafting letters to authors, it will only be useful up to a certain point, as editors are committed to personalizing correspondence to authors and making the advice offered as valuable as possible.
The potential of AI to revolutionize publishing is immense, but its integration must be approached thoughtfully.
Ethics in academic publishing is a shared responsibility. By recognizing common ethical challenges, embracing best practices, and fostering open dialogue, we can preserve the integrity of scholarly communication. Ultimately, the goal is to advance ideas and enrich debates through thoughtful, respectful, and meaningful exchanges between authors, reviewers, editors, and readers.
Where to next?
If you’ve found this article helpful, take a look at:
Our Ethics for authors page for guidance, support, and your ethics checklist
Read more about our Misconduct policies.
For subject-specific research ethics information, read our Guidelines for STM journals and Guidelines for arts, humanities, and social sciences journals.