Ghostwriting barrier

Ghostwriting Barrier Declaration

Recommendations of Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego, together with Polska Bibliografia Naukowa, concerning the prevention against ghostwriting and guest authorship, serve as an evidence of honesty in science being its high quality foundations. Each reader should trust that the authors of publications present their own results of the work in a clear, honest and reliable manner, regardless of the fact whether they are direct and sole authors, or were they assisted by specialized subjects (physical or legal persons).

The proof for their ethical approach and the highest editorial standards, should be transparency of information concerning the subject contribution to the creation of the publication (merit, material and financial input) which shows not only good manners but also social responsibility. Whereas ghostwriting and guest authorship serve as counter examples.

Definitions and clarifications:
Ghostwriting means that somebody else, other than the official author, contributed heavily to the publication, with no trace of their existence, either in the form of co-authorship or special thanks.
Guest authorship (honorary authorship) means that the author’s contribution to the publication is minimal or none, yet their name appears in official publication as an author or co-author.

In order to prevent such cases, the Editorial Board of the MIND Journal introduce the following regulations:
1. At the moment of the article submission, the author(s) sign the declaration encompassing the contribution of particular authors to the article in question (providing the information concerning affiliation and the degree of contribution i.e. the information who is the author of the concept, assumptions, methodology, protocol etc. used in the article). The main responsibility is on the author of the manuscript.
2. Editorial Board hereby inform that ghostwriting and guest authorship incidents show the dishonesty towards science and all the cases shall be detected and revealed, including the notification of adequate institution in concern (employers, academic societies, editorial associations etc.)
3. At the point of submission, the author signs the declaration indicating the sources of financial support from the research institutes, associations and other subjects (financial disclosure)
4. Editorial Board declare, that all the acts of scientific dishonesty shall be filed, especially those of academically unethical character.