Can a scientific paper be published anonymously?
From The Embassy of Good Science
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Can a scientific paper be published anonymously?
What is this about?
Two authors wrote to an editorial committee to ask whether they could publish a paper anonymously. The authors work in a general practice, producing research that showed the health-related problems arising from the practice switching one of its contracts from one laboratory to another. The authors did not want to be perceived as assigning blame to any single party. The committee declined to publish the paper anonymously. This is a factual anonymized case.
Why is this important?
When it comes to authoring a research paper, the authors must be prepared to take responsibility for their findings, claims and arguments. The assumption is that the authors should disclose themselves in order to take ownership of their work.
For whom is this important?
What are the best practices?
As an author, assuming responsibility and being accountable for one's work requires the disclosure of one's identity.
