A beginner’s guide to COPE

What is COPE

Many of Ubiquity’s current ethics resources cite, or are influenced by, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Additionally, we often point editors, authors, and reviewers directly to their own resources. 

COPE has become something of a touchstone for academic publishing ethics worldwide. It was established in 1997 by medical journal editors in the UK, but has since grown out of this field. It has been publishing and updating ethics guidance since 1999. 

We adhere to their guidelines for several reasons. Firstly, they are the standard that many publishers, professional bodies, and authors are already familiar with. Secondly, they have very thorough and expert guidelines, which are continually evolving as academic publishing grows in complexity and volume.

What does COPE provide and how to use the resources

COPE offers a number of resources that are available to members and non-members alike. Of these, the main ones are: 

1. The Core Practices (2017, formerly the Code of Conduct). This is a master list of resources and discussions, broken down by topics such as ‘Data Reproducibility’ and ‘Authorship and Contributorship’. These topics broadly cover all the areas that ethical questions may arise, for a range of users from authors and reviewers to editors. They also provide an ethical framework for all stages of publication and post-publication. These should fit in alongside other subject-specific or national codes of conduct. 
2. Flow Charts. COPE publishes (and updates, as relevant) a number of flowcharts that tackle specific scenarios, such as ‘How to Recognise Potential Manipulation of the Peer Review Process’ and ‘Redundant (Duplicate) Publication in a Submitted Manuscript’. As with the Core Practices, these cover all parts of the publication life-cycle and are relevant to many different users. The flowcharts are also published in several languages other than English. These flowcharts are a good place to start if you have an ethical query or dilemma, and are not sure where to start, or what the potential options may be. 
3. Case Studies. Every year, a number of interesting, unusual, or complex ethical cases are presented to COPE’s various forums and seminars. Many of these are written up, outlining both the initial problem, and the solution that was reached. As ethical issues come up for you as an author, reviewer or editor (or other) there may be a relevant case study. They can be very useful and thought-provoking. Because they are real life case studies, if you find you are having an ethical issue with unusual details, the case studies are a good place to look for a comparison.  

4. COPE Digest. This is a bi-monthly newsletter. It has a hot topic section which covers different topics such as Diversity and Inclusion, or predatory publishing, and a news section. It also details COPE events that may be open to non-members, and recent updates to cases that have been raised on the forum. You can subscribe here.

   
   
   

Between these four categories, COPE has hundreds of individual pieces of guidance on a range of ethical issues. They are an excellent place to find practical information and resources. 

Additional Member Resources

Journals published by Ubiquity Press are all members of COPE once they have been publishing for a year, and the editors are able to login to access further resources. Please note that this does not include journals who use Ubiquity’s publishing services but have their own publisher. You can login to access them by logging in on the COPE website here.

1. Submitting to the forum. In addition to reading case studies, members are able to submit their own cases which may be reviewed by the Forum or the Council. This can provide valuable and tailored feedback on ethical issues. 
2. E-Learning modules. For those that are interested in improving their knowledge of publication ethics principles, there are online training modules on a range of topics such as understanding conflicts of interest, or spotting and handling fabricated evidence in submissions. 
3. Sample Letters. Sometimes, it may be necessary to write difficult or sensitive letters to authors about potential misconduct. COPE provides several template letters that can be adapted for these topics, e.g. a query of plagiarism, figure manipulation, and reviewer misconduct. It also has template follow up letters should the first letter not lead to a resolution. FInally, it briefly details how to write appropriate correspondence for sensitive matters. 
4. Member Insight. This is a bi-monthly newsletter which alternates with the COPE Digest. It provides updates to forum cases, links to new cases, and also details of upcoming members-only events and forums.