Most cases of inappropriate image manipulation are unintentional and rather due to a lack of an in depth knowledge of the image processing software used. A related study showed that around 20-25% of accepted papers contain at least one inappropriately modified image [1]. This is where guidelines and specific training of scientists will bring strong improvements. Nevertheless, quality assurance is important regarding these data alterations [2-9].
Unfortunately, there are also cases of image manipulations on purpose which are hard to prevent in a landscape of publication pressure and impact factors. Investigations carried out by the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) constantly show that misconduct due to image data manipulation and fabrication is not only an isolated case. Those data manipulation of any nature will latest be detected when turning out not to be reproducible [2] but this is way too late. Detection prior to publication is the best option for all instances involved.
Fact is, that many scientific journals neither have the capacities, nor the time and in-depth image processing expertise to screen all submissions for inappropriate image editing or image fabrication on a regular bases.
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[1] Digital Images Are Data: And Should Be Treated as Such
[3] Seeing the Scientific Image
[4] Science journals crack down on image manipulation
[5] Guidelines for Best Practices in Image Processing
[7] Digital Image Ethics – University of Arizona (by Douglas Cromey)
[8] What’s in a picture? The temptation of image manipulation
[9] Manipulation and Misconduct in the Handling of Image Data