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2 years ago in Peer Review By Akshatha Patel

What should I do if I suspect plagiarism or data fabrication as a peer reviewer?

While reviewing, I noticed several paragraphs that seem lifted from another paper, and the data in a key figure looks suspiciously perfect. What is my responsibility? Should I mention it in my review, contact the editor privately, or both?

All Answers (2 Answers In All)

By Deepak Answered 11 months ago

Your primary responsibility is to the integrity of the scholarly record. If you have strong suspicions, you must alert the editor. In the confidential comments to the editor (not in the comments to the authors), state your concerns clearly and provide specific evidence: e.g., "Section 2.1 appears highly similar to text from [cite source]." or "The data in Figure 3 show no variance, which is statistically improbable given the method described." Do not make direct accusations in the author-facing review. The editor will then investigate, possibly using plagiarism detection software or consulting other reviewers. Your role is to flag, not adjudicate. Failing to report suspected misconduct allows flawed or fraudulent work to enter the literature, harming the field. This is a core ethical duty of a reviewer.

By Deepak Answered 11 months ago

Your primary responsibility is to the integrity of the scholarly record. If you have strong suspicions, you must alert the editor. In the confidential comments to the editor (not in the comments to the authors), state your concerns clearly and provide specific evidence: e.g., "Section 2.1 appears highly similar to text from [cite source]." or "The data in Figure 3 show no variance, which is statistically improbable given the method described." Do not make direct accusations in the author-facing review. The editor will then investigate, possibly using plagiarism detection software or consulting other reviewers. Your role is to flag, not adjudicate. Failing to report suspected misconduct allows flawed or fraudulent work to enter the literature, harming the field. This is a core ethical duty of a reviewer.

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