Academic integrity determines the level of trust placed in research findings by reviewers, journal editorial boards and attestation commissions. Failing to observe its principles can lead to the rejection of an article, the retraction of a publication after release, or refusal to award an academic degree. Understanding which actions count as violations helps academics avoid reputational and procedural risks.
What does academic integrity mean?
Academic integrity covers the entire cycle of scholarly work – from data collection to a thesis defence or the publication of an article. These principles are set out by international organisations, including the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), as well as by the editorial boards of journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science.
The main components of academic integrity include:
- originality of the submitted text and data
- correct citation of sources, with references included
- accurate representation of methodology and findings
- disclosure of conflicts of interest and funding sources
- each co-author’s contribution matching the criteria for authorship
According to the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), only those who have made a substantial contribution to the work are included in the list of authors.
Main forms of academic integrity violations
Plagiarism – the use of someone else’s text or data without acknowledging the source – remains the most common violation, though not the only one. Self-plagiarism, that is, the reuse of one’s own previously published text without referencing the original source, misleads the editorial board about the novelty of the material.
Data falsification and fabrication are among the most serious violations, almost always resulting in the rejection of an article. Less obvious cases include citation manipulation for the sake of bibliometric indicators, and violations in the order of authorship.
How is compliance with academic integrity checked?
Checking a text for overlaps with already published work is a standard stage in the editorial process of most journals in Scopus and Web of Science, carried out using systems such as Crossref Similarity Check, iThenticate and Turnitin.
In the Kyrgyz Republic, matters relating to thesis defences are regulated by the National Attestation Commission under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic (NAC). Current regulations on the awarding of academic degrees require a thesis to be checked for borrowed material, and if the share of overlap falls within acceptable limits, with no signs of plagiarism found, the work proceeds to the next stage of review – the commission’s expert council.
When reviewing a thesis or an article, specialists generally follow this sequence of actions:
- Checking the text for technical and substantive overlap with published work.
- Cross-checking the reference list against the actual citations in the text.
- Analysing the methodology and reliability of the data presented.
- Assessing the contribution of each listed co-author.
- Checking compliance with the permissible share of borrowed material.
Consequences of academic integrity violations for academics
At the review stage, an article containing violations is either rejected or sent back to the author for revision. If a violation is discovered after publication, the journal is entitled to initiate a retraction, which is then recorded in bibliometric databases.
During a thesis defence in the Kyrgyz Republic, the discovery of an unacceptable amount of borrowed material may result in the work being sent for a repeat defence, which the NAC presidium permits only three months after the corresponding decision is issued. A violation of academic integrity reduces trust on the part of editorial boards and makes further cooperation with academic publications more difficult.
Academic integrity is a systemic principle that applies to every stage of scholarly work. Observing it reduces the risk of an article being rejected and builds an academic’s reputation, one that reviewers and attestation commissions can rely on.
Want to make sure your article meets the requirements of academic integrity before submission to a journal or a defence? The specialists at Scientific Publications will check your text for plagiarism and AI use, and help bring the formatting of your work in line with the requirements of the publication or the NAC. To get a free consultation, fill in the form below, and our manager will contact you shortly. Onwards to new scientific achievements!
