Redundant publications, also known as duplicate publications or duplicate submissions, refer to the practice of submitting or publishing the same research findings or data in multiple journals or venues. In the scientific and academic community, redundant publications are generally discouraged and considered unethical.
The reasons for discouraging redundant publications are several:
Overlapping content: Duplicate publications can result in the same research being disseminated multiple times, leading to a waste of resources and potential confusion for readers. It can also create difficulties for other researchers who may be unaware of the duplicated work while conducting their own studies.
Journal guidelines: Many reputable journals have strict guidelines against duplicate submissions. They typically require authors to declare that their work has not been published elsewhere or is not under consideration by another journal. Violating these guidelines can damage an author's reputation and may lead to consequences such as retraction of the duplicate publication.
Copyright infringement: Submitting the same work to multiple journals without proper disclosure can potentially infringe upon the copyright policies of the involved publications. Most journals require authors to transfer or license their copyright, and duplicating the same content in different venues can raise legal concerns.
Academic integrity: Redundant publications violate principles of academic integrity, which emphasize honesty, transparency, and responsible conduct of research. Engaging in duplicate submissions undermines the credibility of the research and the researcher.
However, it's worth noting that there are instances where publishing similar or related work in different journals can be acceptable. For example, researchers may choose to publish different aspects or perspectives of their research in separate journals, ensuring transparency and providing additional insights to the scientific community. In such cases, proper acknowledgment and citation of the previously published work are essential.
To avoid redundant publications, researchers should carefully review the submission guidelines and policies of the target journal, clearly disclose any related work during the submission process, and adhere to ethical practices in academic publishing.