Abstract
Redundant publication in biomedical sciences is the presentation of the same information or data set more than once. Forms of redundant publication include “salami slicing”, in which similar text accompanies data presented in disaggregated fashion in different publications and “duplicate or multiple publication” in which identical information is presented with a virtually identical text. Estimates of prevalence of the phenomenon put it at 10 to 25% of published literature. Redundant publication can be considered unethical, or fraudulent, when the author(s) attempt to conceal the existence of duplicate publication from editors and readers. Redundant publication in the area of clinical trials is potentially dangerous as it tends to overestimate the effects of interventions. The scientific community at large and governments should take urgent steps to safeguard the public from the possible effects of fraudulent multiple publications.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Jefferson, T.O., Demicheli, V., Pratt, M., Decks, J., Sassi, F. & MacMillan, A. (1997) The effectiveness of vaccines against Hepatitis B in healthcare workers. In: Gluud, C., Jørgensen, T., Morabito A, Pagliaro L, Poynard T, Sutton R (editors). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; Issue 3. Update Software 1997.
Crosnier, J., Jungers, P., Courouce, A-N., Laplanche, A., Benhamou, E., Degos, F., Lacour, B., Prunet, P., Cerisier, Y. & Guesry, P. (1981) Randomised placebo-controlled trial of Hepatitis B surface antigen vaccine in French heamodialysis units: I, medical staff. The Lancet; 455–59 (28 February).
Huth, E.J. (1986) Irresponsible authorship and wasteful publication. Annals of Internal Medicine 104:257–9.
Hustu, P, & Moher, D. (1996) Redundancy, disaggregation and the integrity of medical research. Lancet 347:1024–26.
Waldron A. (1992) Is duplicate publishing on the increase? British Medical Journal 304:1029.
Lock, S. (1996) Research misconduct: a resume of recent events. In: Lock, S. & Wells, F. (editors). Fraud and misconduct in medical research. Second Edition. BMJ Publishing Group, London, page 22.
Tramèr, M.R., Reynolds D.J.M., Moore, R.A. & McQuay, H.J. (1997) Impact of covert duplicate publication on meta-analysis: a case study. British Medical Journal 315:635–40.
Lock, S. (1996) Fraud and the editor. In: Lock, S. & Wells, F. (editors). Fraud and misconduct in medical research. Second Edition, BMJ Publishing Group, London, page 244.
Lowry, S. & Smit, J. (1992) Duplicate publication. British Medical Journal 304: 999–1000.
Husson, J.M., Bogaievsky, Y., Hvidberg, E., Schwarz J. & Chadha, D. (1996) Fraud in clinical research on medicines in the European Union: facts and proposals. In: Lock, S. & Wells, F. (editors). Fraud and misconduct in medical research. Second Edition. BMJ Publishing Group London, pages 206–225.
Riis, P. (1996) Creating a national control system on scientific dishonesty within the health sciences. In: Lock, S. & Wells, F. (editors). Fraud and misconduct in medical research. Second Edition, BMJ Publishing Group, London, pages 114–127.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jefferson, T. Redundant publication in biomedical sciences: Scientific misconduct or necessity?. SCI ENG ETHICS 4, 135–140 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-998-0043-9
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-998-0043-9