The Springer Nature Research Integrity Group has been working to develop practical, accessible resources to support researchers at every stage of their career.
In this round-up, we’ve gathered all the current ‘Researcher Riddles’ from the Research Communities to easily find all the excellent resources available. They all explore common challenges and questions around research integrity, from spotting predatory journals and avoiding paper mills, to knowing how (and when) to correct the record if something goes wrong.
Each summary below includes links to interactive scenarios, free training courses, and tips you can apply right away.
These resources from @Zina Bibanovic and @Jo Appleford-Cook are here to help you do your best and most responsible research.
This blog summarises:
- Introduction to Research Integrity
- Research integrity support for early career researchers
- Predatory Publishers
- Predatory Publishers course
- Image manipulation
- New course on paper mills
- Research Integrity survey
- Conflicts of interest
- Using AI as a researcher
Researcher Riddle: Introduction to Research Integrity
Research integrity spans everything from how research is conducted to how it’s published and covers complex issues like experimental design, ethics approvals, authorship, plagiarism, and peer review. For many researchers, especially early-career researchers, navigating these topics can be overwhelming due to limited formal training.
This post explores a common research integrity dilemma and offers practical advice on how to handle it. You’ll also find a free course, Research Integrity: An Introduction for Researchers, which covers key principles, best practices, and real-world guidance.
Read the full post to test your knowledge, learn from example scenarios, and access tools to support ethical research practices.
Researcher Riddle: Research integrity support for early career researchers
Understanding and maintaining research integrity is essential, but early career researchers (ECRs) often face unique challenges, especially when dealing with evolving issues like AI, paper mills, and authorship disputes.
Read this post to explore an example scenario where a senior researcher pressures a junior colleague for unearned authorship. It gives a full explanation of why this request violates authorship standards using the ICMJE’s criteria for authorship, how to respond professionally, and what steps to take to protect the integrity of the manuscript.
Researcher Riddle: Predatory Publishers
Predatory publishers can exploit well-meaning researchers, especially early career ones, by mimicking legitimate journals while offering little to no peer review or editorial oversight. This post presents a scenario highlighting red flags like vague communication, unclear fees, and suspiciously generous invitations to join editorial boards.
Read the recommendations, such as checking the journal’s website, consulting trusted colleagues, and using tools like the Think.Check.Submit checklist before proceeding.
Researcher Riddle: Predatory Publishers course
In this post, Zina Bibanovic and Jo Appleford-Cook highlight a vital skill: how to spot and avoid predatory publishers. These deceptive journals target researchers of all levels and can seriously undermine your work. This interactive riddle walks you through common red flags, like false editorial boards and misleading indexing claims.
To learn even more, you can take a 30-minute course to learn how to protect your research and choose the right publication venue. Read more and test your skills.
Researcher Riddle: Image manipulation
Images are powerful tools in research communication but modifying them incorrectly can compromise research integrity. This post explores which image editing practices are acceptable under Springer Nature’s policies, using an interactive quiz to test your knowledge.
Learn why practices like undisclosed splicing or reusing images without explanation are problematic, while full-image adjustments (if disclosed and reproducible) are generally fine. You’ll also find links to further resources and courses to support best practices in image use. Read the full post to sharpen your skills and ensure your figures meet integrity standards.
Researcher Riddle: new course on paper mills
Paper mills (fraudulent companies selling authorship in fake or poor-quality papers) are on the rise, posing a serious threat to research integrity. To help researchers avoid these traps, the Springer Nature Research Integrity Group has launched a free course on avoiding paper mills as an author. The course explains how paper mills operate, the risks of using them, and ethical alternatives when research doesn't go as planned. Faced with pressure to publish, it’s crucial to choose legitimate paths like publishing negative results or methodology articles.
Read the full post to explore your options and learn how to protect your work and your reputation.
Research Integrity survey
The Springer Nature Research Integrity Group offers a growing range of resources to help researchers navigate key integrity issues, including avoiding paper mills and understanding predatory publishers. As the team are planning new materials to create on topics like conflicts of interest, ethics approval, and data curation, they have asked for your input to shape what comes next.
Take the short, anonymous survey to share which areas of research integrity you’d like more support with. Your feedback will help tailor resources that best serve the research community on the Research Communities.
Researcher Riddle: Conflicts of interest
Conflicts of interest (COIs) are common in research and must be declared transparently when submitting a manuscript. They can be financial, like holding patents or receiving industry funding, or non-financial, such as editorial roles or personal relationships that may influence the work.
This post outlines what qualifies as a COI, why disclosure is essential for maintaining research integrity, and how undeclared COIs can lead to serious consequences like corrections or retractions.
Learn more about helpful Springer Nature resources to guide researchers like the Springer Nature editorial policy on competing interests to identify and manage potential COIs effectively.
Researcher Riddle: Using AI as a researcher
In this post, Jo Appleford-Cook and Zina Bibanovic tackle the complex question of how AI tools can be used responsibly in research and publishing. They outline Springer Nature’s clear editorial policies on AI use in manuscripts, prohibiting generative AI authorship, image creation, and use during peer review. UKRIO’s guidance on using AI with integrity is a valuable tool, which encourages researchers to consider ethical implications, institutional policies, and the broader impact of AI on creativity and critical thinking.
Read the full post to learn more about which possible uses of AI tools are acceptable as part of research and should be declared in a submitted manuscript.
Hopefully this collection of resources has helped shed light on some of the most common integrity issues and shown that support is available, whatever your career stage or discipline.
If you found these summaries helpful, please share them with your peers or research group. And don’t forget to explore the full courses linked in each section, they're free, practical, and designed to fit into your busy schedule.