We all need data we can trust. Cochrane policy requires that studies with serious research integrity problems, including fraudulent data, be excluded from Cochrane Reviews.  This plenary explored the scope and root causes of the problem of fraudulent and problematic research.  Solutions to identifying and preventing the publication of research with serious research integrity problems were discussed.  The international panel of speakers offered perspectives from a variety of disciplines on paper mills, tools to identify fraudulent studies, and what systematic reviewers and journals can do to improve research integrity. There was ample time for audience participation in the discussion of proposed solutions.

Keynotes:

• Quantity over quality: a primer on research paper mills (Jenny Byrne)
• Journals identifying and eliminating problem studies (John Carlisle)
• This is a global issue: The African Research Integrity Network (ARIN) (Limbanazo Matandika)
• How to reduce structural and academic incentives that promote fraud (Cyril Labbe)
• Protecting the integrity of systematic reviews (Lisa Bero)

Related sessions:

• Research integrity, transparency and fraud. (Oral session). Monday 4th September 11:00-12:30
• Research and Publication Integrity. (Special session). Tuesday 5th September 14:00-15:30
• Introducing INSPECT-SR: a tool for detecting problematic randomised controlled trials in health systematic reviews. (Training workshop). Wednesday 6th September 11:00-12:30

This session was chaired by Richard Van Noorden, from Nature.

• Watch a recording of the session on YouTube.
• View the PDF slides.