JMIR Metascience and Research Integrity Launches New Section to Combat Misinformation in Scholarly Publishing
Toronto, ON – In a significant move to safeguard the integrity of academic knowledge, JMIR Publications has announced the establishment of a new dedicated section within its journal, JMIR Metascience and Research Integrity. The new section, titled “Misinformation in Scientific Publishing,” is designed to address the growing threat of false and misleading information that originates from within the scholarly ecosystem itself. This initiative underscores the publisher’s commitment to fostering transparency and trust in research, recognizing that the integrity of the scientific record is paramount to informed decision-making in clinical practice and health policy. The call for papers is now open, inviting researchers to contribute to this critical field of study.
The journal’s focus is rooted in the field of metascience, also known as “research on research.” This discipline applies the scientific method to the practice of science itself, aiming to improve the quality, efficiency, and transparency of research processes. By creating this new section, JMIR Metascience and Research Integrity seeks to tackle systemic issues that compromise the reliability of published literature. The initiative directly confronts phenomena such as compromised peer review, manipulated data, and predatory publishing practices. These internal threats are recognized as being just as dangerous to public trust as external misinformation, as they can corrupt the foundational knowledge upon which subsequent research and real-world applications are built.
The section will explore three distinct but related categories of information disorder: misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. Within the context of scholarly publishing, this includes a range of problematic activities, from the deliberate fabrication of data and misleading abstract presentations to the unethical manipulation of the citation process. The journal highlights that the speed and scale of modern content production and sharing amplify these challenges. The proliferation of preprint servers and the widespread use of social media as a dissemination tool create new avenues for unvalidated or even intentionally deceptive AI-generated material to enter the public sphere, accelerating the spread of unverified claims and posing a considerable risk to evidence-based decision-making.
Recognizing the multifaceted nature of the problem, the new section calls for a broad spectrum of contributions. The editorial team is soliciting original research, systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and policy analyses that critically examine potential solutions and mitigation strategies. The scope is intentionally inclusive, welcoming viewpoints that address the entire publishing ecosystem, from the roles of individual authors and academic institutions to the responsibilities of publishers, funders, and policymakers. This comprehensive approach is designed to foster a collaborative effort in developing robust detection tools, effective governance models, and educational frameworks. By encouraging evidence-based and thought-provoking submissions, the journal aims to be a central platform for advancing the conversation on how to best protect the credibility of science.
Examples of specific topics of interest include investigating the mechanisms by which inaccurate content becomes embedded in scientific literature, and assessing the effectiveness of various post-publication review and correction processes. Furthermore, the journal is keen to publish work that examines the unique challenges posed by non-peer-reviewed content, such as preprints, and its impact on public understanding of science. Research exploring the systemic incentives that may inadvertently encourage questionable research practices, such as the pressure to publish, will also be considered. Ultimately, the journal seeks to publish studies that propose and evaluate novel solutions for governance and policy, with the goal of creating a future scholarly publishing landscape that is resilient to misinformation and steadfast in its commitment to truth.
JMIR Publications, the organization behind this initiative, is a leading open access publisher known for its work in digital health and its advocacy for open science. This new section is a natural extension of its mission to support researchers and maximize the impact of their work through innovative tools and transparent processes. By hosting this critical dialogue, JMIR Publications is taking a proactive stance to ensure that the scientific enterprise remains a reliable source of knowledge for society. For researchers interested in contributing to this important effort, detailed submission guidelines and the full call for papers are available on the journal’s website.
