How to improve visibility of your journal in the international community?

Ana Marušić

editor in chief, Journal of Global Healtheditor emerita, Croatian Medical Journal

University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia

Workshop: Editorial Process

Peripheral position to the mainstream science

World Mapper: http://www.worldmapper.org/display.php?selected=205 Territory size shows the proportion of all scientific papers published in 2001 written by authors living there.

Small/emerging scientific communities

• Usually academic and scolarly journals, where the editorial position is not a full-time position.

• Published in small scientific communities – the so-called scientific periphery, characterized by:– smallness of the research community,– lack of financial support,– language barrier.

Small journals in peripheral scientific communities

Marušić A, Marušić M. Croat Med J 1999;40:508-514.Marušić A, Marušić M. Croat Med J 2001;42:113-120.

Academic inbreeding: institutions employing PhDs whom they trained (Spain 95%, Portugal 80%).

Mexico:• Academically inbred faculty generate on average 15% fewer

peer reviewed publications than non-inbred counterparts. • Academically inbred faculty are more centered in their own

institution and less open to the rest of the scientific world (40% less likely to exchange information of critical relevance to their scholarly work with external colleagues).

• Academic inbreeding is detrimental to scientific output even in leading research universities.

Academic inbreeding in small/emerging communities

Horta H et al. Navel gazing: Academic inbreeding and scientific productivity. Management Science 2010;56:414-429.

Authorpool

   

+       +

   

+       +

   

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No. and quality of manuscrip

ts

LOW

Reviewer’s

pool

Review process

INADEQUATE

Finances Technicalresource

s

LOW

Language

English IMPERFECT

Product Journal LOW QUALITY

Poor visibility

Small journals – vicious circle

“My cautious conclusion is that journals can lead, in limited ways.”

Zarin et al. N Engl J Med 2005;353:2779)

Effect of ICMJE registration policy

“A subject that needs reform should be kept before the public until it demands reform.”

Editors of small journals also have the power for change and leadership:

• Research• Teaching• Practice

Small journals and leadership in responsible publishing

SWOT analysis of editorial role in responsible publishing

factors external to the organization or group

internal resources and capabilities

STRENGTHSWEAKNESSES

OPPORTUNITIESTHREATS

STRENGTHS of editors in promoting good research and publishing

Authority in the scientific community

Editorial independence

Expertise in researchResponsibility for the integrity of published records

Power to formulate and implement editorial policies

OPPORTUNITIES for editors in promoting responsible publishing practices

Editors well positioned to detect scientific misconduct

Availability of new technologies for detecting misconduct

Editorial policies developed by editorial organizations

Policies developed by national ethics/integrity bodiesGreater transparency of publications on the webGreater transparency of literature corrections on the

web

World Association of Medical Editors

EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF SCIENCE EDITORS

www.councilscienceeditors.org

www.ease.org.uk

www.icmje.org

www.wame.org

www.publicationethics.org.uk

Editorial publishing policies

CSE's White Paper on Promoting Integrity in Scientific Journal Publications

EASE Science Editors' Handbook – Ethical issues

ICMJE Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Writing and Editing for Biomedical Publication

WAME Policy Statement on the Responsibilities of Medical Editors

COPE Code of Conduct, Ethics Flowcharts, Guidelines on Article Retraction

Editorial policies

OPPORTUNITIES: Policies developed by national ethics/integrity bodies

USA: Office for Research Integrity, DHHS; National Science FoundationCanada: Canadian Institutes of Health ResearchNordic countries: RI Committees in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland Germany: Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftSwitzerland: Swiss Academy of Medical SciencesIndia: Indian Council of Medical ResearchUK: UK Research Integrity OfficeJapan: Science Council of Japan China: Ethics Committee of the Ministry of EducationCroatia: National Board for Ethics in Science and Higher Education

Hamilton T. JAMA 2005;294:2287

Research in scientific publishing

PRC 11989

PRC 21993

PRC 31997

PRC 42001

PRC 52005

Abstracts submitted Citations in PubMed

Source: D. Rennie, JAMA 2006

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The future of scientific journals?

• CMJ editorial:Double life of medical journals: Dr

Paper and Mr WebCroat Med J. 2006:47:4-6

The future of scientific journals

Preparing journal for online publication

Epidemiology and aetiology of maternal bacterial and viral infections in low- and middle-income countries Prasad Palani Velu1*, Courtney A. Gravett2*, Tom K. Roberts1, Thor A. Wagner3, Jian Shayne F. Zhang1, Craig E. Rubens2,3*, Michael G. Gravett2,4*, Harry Campbell1*, Igor Rudan1,* 1Centre for Population Health Sciences and Global Health Academy, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK 2Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS), Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA

The majority of studies screened for the presence of maternal HBV infection by

detecting Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in maternal serum. Particularly high

maternal HBV prevalence (25%) was identified in Zimbabwe (90), Brazil (20) and Taiwan

(83).

Hepatitis C virus. Twenty-one studies reporting the prevalence of maternal Hepatitis

C virus (HCV) infection were identified (Supplementary Table 4). The features and

findings of these studies are summarized in Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17.

Preparing journal for online publication

Best Practices for Publishing Journal Articles

1. Affirmation of the Journal2. Article Retrieval3. Version Management4. Supplemental Materials5. Content Creator6. Indication of Length7. Article Identifiers8. Citation Elements Required and Publisher Display of Recommended Citation9. Tables of Contents and Indicators of Completeness10. Journal Editor Identification11. Copyright Statement

http://www.nfais.org/files/file/Best_Practices_Final_Public.pdf

Keeping up with developments in publishing

Keeping up with developments in publishing

Creative commons:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/

WEAKNESSES of editors in promoting responsible research publishing

No mandate for legal actionsFew means of action: expression of concern and

retractionReluctance to get involved in delicate issuesPossible damage to journal’s reputationLack of education and staff to implement adequate

procedures

THREATS to editors promoting responsible research publishing

Lack of legal regulation and culture of research integrity in the scientific community

Corruption of the scientific community and governments

No training availableLack of support from stakeholders in scientific publishing

(publishers, associations, scientists, academic and scientific community)

Pressures on editors and journal (publishers, financial conflict of interest)

Claxton LD. Scientific authorship. Mutat Res

“Most of the allegations and findings center upon publication issues, because scientific publication documents the actions of the researcher.”

If journals and their editors are placed well to detect scientific misconduct, they are also well placed to prevent misconduct and promote responsible conduct of research.

“An editor needs, and must have, enemies; he can’t do without them.Woe be unto the journalist of whom all men say good things.”

THREATS to editors promoting responsible research

Obrigada!

ana.marusic@mefst.hr

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