BACKGROUND: I am a medical doctor, bearing in mind a study with the potential to scatter medical research. The protocol is at 'beta-level' (one week, and it's at alpha). The study it self bears the risk to get extremely exposed. Many con's, many pro's. The main task is gathering data, yet not an overwhelming amount, as the main question is simple, but the impact would be huge (funny, nobody did it so far). I am raising this question because I don't have a lab being able to get all the data ASAP. But I am sure 10+ researchers (given they have brain, internet connection and access to full text papers) could do it in a month or two in parallel to daily workload. Although, they have to take the risk to expose themselves.
QUESTION: As publication habits in medicine, sadly, follow the rule 'first comes, first served', I am reluctant to broadcast the idea in an international forum with many well suited labs connected to it, without having an idea how to get a team that can be considered thrustful to share the idea, and once done, publish it as a team. The article would shutter IF 10+(+) journals badly (I have some pilot data to endorse it). It probably would also get a publication in these ranks – its easier to accept and publish a well conduced publication that question your habits, then to decline it and wait to see it been published in another journal with your journal's name stamped in print. At least these would be my considerations as an editor.
RELUCTANCE: Theoretically, I can send a mail to willing co-authors to accept a contract that we stick together for project x. Having the signed consent I could share the protocol of project x with an agreement to counter-sing it for confidence too. Yet, if an author called 'abc' signs the initial contract, and receives the protocol, he can pass it forward to his study group. As long as he (however) doesn't claim co-authorship, and his group is faster to do the work, it is near impossible to prove plagiarism; isn't it?
Dear Bruno,
I am sorry not to have answered earlier. Partly I have been travelling a lot and partly I do not fully understand what you require both here and in your post in response to my question. However I would be willing to consider participating in a study if it is practical for me and if it is somthing that seems worthwhile and feasable. However, as you know I am retired and not involved in day to day practice. I generally work on my own these days, and in these circumstances there are some things that are not very practical. Jim
Well, to date, in the field of medicine it is not. Jim was the only one responded to the question. The rest, I have to assume, is not willing to start a project be it for lacking time, be it for risk of a critical paper, be it for IF-eagerty.
And to finish this discussion, I am a bit sad about RG-comments, as I consider this question not unworthy. Yet, I will get my team together anyway. Takes a bit longer, but should we be able to do the work, I'll post it here as an answer for the sparse interest.
Bruno. Even if there is not a lot of response, you should not become disheartened. Your question and issue is a valid one and you will find a platform to deal with it. Even with the opportunity to meet and discuss a multicentre project, it takes a lot of time to work out protocols and ensure that everybody understands and agrees to do the same thing. This is only achieved with a lot of discussion.
There are two new questions that you might be interested in, one on big science and fraudulent behaviour; and one on integrity of publications. They are encouraging, but not as ambitious as yours.
Dear Jim, I just will face the highest ranking Journals with their abuse of self-declared moral and/or ethical standards. If I would be an owner of a supermarket stating that all my bananas are fresh and yellow, what would the customer anticipate if 25% of them are blue, red, green or brown and out of date?
About the collaboration in any scientific research, I believe honest is the most powerful adhesive for a team. Science paper is an honest story talked by honest persons with honest data. This is the bottom for happiness whatever it comes from. First, I trust anybody who are interested and join in our project, Second, we will discuss the detail of the collaboration including the protocol, the running rules, and everyone's responsibilities and benefits. If one member of our team puts forward a new idea that become a new research branch, who will be the leader of that if he has the ability.I hope you will be happy to share your idea with others and have a good journey of scientific discovery.
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