The Prevalence of Inappropriate Image Duplication in Biomedical Research Publications.

ABSTRACT: Inaccurate data in scientific papers can result from honest error or intentional falsification. This study attempted to determine the percentage of published papers that contain inappropriate image duplication, a specific type of inaccurate data. The images from a total of 20,621 papers published in 40 scientific journals from 1995 to 2014 were visually screened. Overall, 3.8% of published papers contained problematic figures, with at least half exhibiting features suggestive of deliberate manipulation. The prevalence of papers with problematic images has risen markedly during the past decade. Additional papers written by authors of papers with problematic images had an increased likelihood of containing problematic images as well. As this analysis focused only on one type of data, it is l

SUBMITTER: Bik EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4941872 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature