Bibliometric Analysis on Ethic Consideration in Academic Publishing Based on WoS Core Collection

Abstract

With investigating the impact on scholarly communication, this study focuses on the evolution of ethical considerations from 2006 to 2024 in academic publishing. Utilizing a dataset of 9,322 articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection, bibliometric techniques, text analysis, and visualization tools were employed to identify global trends of publishing ethics. This study, grounded in the Global Tri-Dimensional Model of Publishing Ethics Evolution, explores three interconnected dimensions: Platform Governance (analyzing publishers' roles in upholding ethical standards), Ethical Theme Evolution (monitoring the emergence and evolution of ethical issues over time), and Geographic Distribution (charting global trends and regional contributions). Study results stated that the evolution of academic publishing ethics is divided into four distinct stages: the Awareness Phase (2006–2009), defined by the initial recognition of ethical issues; the Deepening and Development Phase (2010–2015), marked by the formalization of guidelines; the Diversification and Global Collaboration Phase (2016–2020), emphasizing expanded ethical considerations and cross-regional collaboration; and the Integration and Innovation Phase (2021–2024), characterized by the incorporation of innovative practices and technologies. The study emphasizes the necessity of transparent dissemination practices, cross-regional cooperation, and institutional accountability to promote ethical and responsible academic publishing. It offers practical recommendations for publishers to tackle new challenges, embrace technological advancements, and strengthen the central role of ethics considerations in safeguarding the integrity and transparency of the global academic publishing landscape in scholarly communication.