scieditorScience Editor and PublisherНаучный редактор и издатель2542-02672541-8122АНРИ10.24069/SEP-24-21scieditor-423Research ArticleEDITORIAL POLICYРЕДАКЦИОННАЯ ПОЛИТИКАSpecial Issues: The Roles of Special Issues in Scholarly Communication in a Changing Publishing LandscapeСпециальные выпуски и их роль в научной коммуникации в условиях трансформации издательской деятельностиhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3888-402XГлиснерР. М.GleasnerRobyn M.anstra@yandex.ruСудА.SoodAkshayansrea@yandex.ruУниверситет Нью-Мексико, Центр библиотечных и информационных технологий в области медицинских наукСоединённые Штаты АмерикиUniversity of New Mexico Health Sciences Library and Informatics CenterUnited StatesМедицинская школа Университета Нью-МексикоСоединённые Штаты АмерикиUniversity of New Mexico School of MedicineUnited States20240501202592152167Copyright © Gleasner R.M., Sood A., 20252025Глиснер Р.М., Суд А.Gleasner R.M., Sood A.Данная работа распространяется под лицензией Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://www.scieditor.ru/jour/article/view/423

This paper aims to enhance the understanding of the role of special issues in the evolving landscape of academic publishing, offering insights for publishers, editors, guest editors, and researchers, including how new technologies influence transparency in publishing processes, open access models, and metrics for success. Based upon original analysis, the paper also discusses the importance of special issues and opportunities to support diversity, equity, and inclusivity in special issue publishing programmes. The goal is to contribute to the discussion of maintaining research integrity through special issues, acknowledging their significance in scholarly communication, while offering suggestions for the future.

Данная статья направлена на углубление понимания роли специальных выпусков в динамично развивающейся сфере научно-издательской деятельности. Она раскрывает важные аспекты влияния новых технологий на прозрачность издательских процессов, модели открытого доступа и показатели успеха, которые могут быть полезны издателям, редакторам, приглашенным редакторам и исследователям. На основе проведенного анализа рассматривается значение специальных выпусков и их роль в сохранении разнообразия, равенства и инклюзивности в рамках научно-издательской деятельности. Цель статьи – внести вклад в обсуждение роли специальных выпусков в поддержании добросовестности исследовательской деятельности,  подчеркнув их значение для научной коммуникации и предложив рекомендации для их развития в будущем.

открытый доступнаучная коммуникацияспециальные выпускиopen accessscholarly communicationspecial issuesReferencesSage. Publishing special issues. Available at: https://us.sagepub.com/enus/nam/publishing-special-issues (accessed: 11.12.2024).Sage. Publishing special issues. Available at: https://us.sagepub.com/enus/nam/publishing-special-issues (accessed: 11.12.2024).Leigh J. S. A., Edwards M. S. What’s so special about special issues? A discussion of their benefits and challenges. Journal of Management Education. 2022;46(2):215–225. https://doi.org/10.1177/10525629211072315Leigh J. S. A., Edwards M. S. What’s so special about special issues? A discussion of their benefits and challenges. Journal of Management Education. 2022;46(2):215–225. https://doi.org/10.1177/10525629211072315Growing your journal: Special issues. March 20, 2023. Available at: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/network/publishing/research-publishing/editors/growing-your-journal-special-issues (accessed: 11.12.2024).Growing your journal: Special issues. March 20, 2023. Available at: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/network/publishing/research-publishing/editors/growing-your-journal-special-issues (accessed: 11.12.2024).Elsevier. Guest editor guide. 2024. Available at: https://www.elsevier.com/editor/role/guest/guide (accessed: 11.12.2024).Elsevier. Guest editor guide. 2024. Available at: https://www.elsevier.com/editor/role/guest/guide (accessed: 11.12.2024).Minerva. Guidelines for Special Issues. Available at: https://link.springer.com/journal/11024/updates/17461924 accessed: 11.12.2024).Minerva. Guidelines for Special Issues. Available at: https://link.springer.com/journal/11024/updates/17461924 (accessed: 11.12.2024).LP Call for Papers. Digital innovations and research integrity – Opportunities and risks for scholarly publishing. SSP Society for Scholarly Publishing. July 26, 2023. Available at: https://www.sspnet.org/community/news/lp-call-for-papers-digital-innovations-and-research-integrity-opportunities-and-risks-for-scholarly-publishing/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).LP Call for Papers. Digital innovations and research integrity– Opportunities and risks for scholarly publishing. SSP Society for Scholarly Publishing. July 26, 2023. Available at: https://www.sspnet.org/community/news/lp-call-for-papers-digital-innovations-and-research-integrity-opportunities-and-risks-for-scholarly-publishing/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).Call for Special Issue Proposals. Oxford Academic. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/jaac/pages/call-for-special-issue-proposals (accessed: 11.12.2024).Call for Special Issue Proposals. Oxford Academic. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/jaac/pages/call-for-special-issue-proposals (accessed: 11.12.2024).STM Journals. Special Issue Guidelines. April 30, 2022. Available at: https://journals.stmjournals.com/special-issue-guidelines/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).STM Journals. Special Issue Guidelines. April 30, 2022. Available at: https://journals.stmjournals.com/special-issue-guidelines/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).Hirschauer S. Editorial judgments: A praxeology of ‘voting’ in peer review. Social Studies of Science. 2010;40(1):71–103. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306312709335405Hirschauer S. Editorial judgments: A praxeology of ‘voting’ in peer review. Social Studies of Science. 2010;40(1):71–103. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306312709335405Repiso R., Segarra-Saavedra J., Hidalgo-Marí T., Tur-Viñes, V. The prevalence and impact of special issues in communications journals 2015–2019. Learned Publishing. 2021;34(4):593–601. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1406Repiso R., Segarra-Saavedra J., Hidalgo-Marí T., Tur-Viñes, V. The prevalence and impact of special issues in communications journals 2015–2019. Learned Publishing. 2021;34(4):593–601. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1406Clarivate. (Web of Science). Clarivate. 2023.Clarivate. (Web of Science). Clarivate. 2023.Smith D., Leggat P., Araki S. Assessing the bibliometric performance of a ‘Special Issue’: A citation analysis using the Web of Science database. European Science Editing. 2012;38(4):88–90. Available at: https://europeanscienceediting.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/oasmithesenov12.pdf (accessed: 11.12.2024).Smith D., Leggat P., Araki S. Assessing the bibliometric performance of a ‘Special Issue’: A citation analysis using the Web of Science database. European Science Editing. 2012;38(4):88–90. Available at: https://europeanscienceediting.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/oasmithesenov12.pdf (accessed: 11.12.2024).Conlon D. E., Morgeson F. P., McNamara G., Wiseman R. M., Skilton P. F. From the editors: Examining the impact and role of special issue and regular journal articles in the field of management. The Academy of Management Journal. 2006;49(5):857–872. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2006.22798160Conlon D. E., Morgeson F. P., McNamara G., Wiseman R. M., Skilton P. F. From the editors: Examining the impact and role of special issue and regular journal articles in the field of management. The Academy of Management Journal. 2006;49(5):857–872. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2006.22798160Hendry A. Special Issues: What are they good for? Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics. July 4, 2016. Available at: https://ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com/2016/07/i-have-helped-to-edit-nine-journal.html (accessed: 11.12.2024).Hendry A. Special Issues: What are they good for? Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics. July 4, 2016. Available at: https://ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com/2016/07/i-have-helped-to-edit-nine-journal.html (accessed: 11.12.2024).Otto C. M. Heartbeat: Altmetrics and cardiovascular risk factor studies. Heart. 2015;101(24):1931–1932. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2015-308995Otto C. M. Heartbeat: Altmetrics and cardiovascular risk factor studies. Heart. 2015;101(24):1931–1932. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2015-308995Mowday R. T. If special issues of journals are not so special, why has their use proliferated? Journal of Management Inquiry. 2006;15(4):389–393. https://doi.org/10.1177/1056492606294639Mowday R. T. If special issues of journals are not so special, why has their use proliferated? Journal of Management Inquiry. 2006;15(4):389–393. https://doi.org/10.1177/1056492606294639Knöchelmann M., Hesselmann F., Reinhart M., Schendzielorz C. The rise of the guest editor – Discontinuities of editorship in scholarly publishing. Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics. 2022;6:748171. https://doi.org/10.3389/frma.2021.748171Knöchelmann M., Hesselmann F., Reinhart M., Schendzielorz C. The rise of the guest editor – Discontinuities of editorship in scholarly publishing. Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics. 2022;6:748171. https://doi.org/10.3389/frma.2021.748171Flaherty C. The peer-review crisis. Inside higher ed. Available at: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/06/13/peer-review-crisis-creates-problems-journals-and-scholars (accessed: 11.12.2024).Flaherty C. The peer-review crisis. Inside higher ed. Available at: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/06/13/peer-review-crisis-creates-problems-journals-and-scholars (accessed: 11.12.2024).Wu (Anping) A., Hayes S. ATG special report – Expanding your book holdings without buying anything new: Analytical cataloging. Against the Grain. 2005;17(2):46–50. https://doi.org/10.7771/2380-176X.4796Wu (Anping) A., Hayes S. ATG special report– Expanding your book holdings without buying anything new: Analytical cataloging. Against the Grain. 2005;17(2):46–50. https://doi.org/10.7771/2380-176X.4796Plakhotnik M. S. Communication clarity in calls for papers issued by journal special issues: First impressions matter. Learned Publishing. 2021;34(2):156–163. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1337Plakhotnik M. S. Communication clarity in calls for papers issued by journal special issues: First impressions matter. Learned Publishing. 2021;34(2):156–163. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1337Priem R. L. What happens when special issues just aren’t “special” anymore? Journal of Management Inquiry, 2006;15(4):383–388. https://doi.org/10.1177/1056492606294525Priem R. L. What happens when special issues just aren’t “special” anymore? Journal of Management Inquiry, 2006;15(4):383–388. https://doi.org/10.1177/1056492606294525Olk P., Griffith T. L. Creating and disseminating knowledge among organizational scholars: The role of special issues. Organization Science. 2004;15(1):120–129. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1030.0055Olk P., Griffith T. L. Creating and disseminating knowledge among organizational scholars: The role of special issues. Organization Science. 2004;15(1):120–129. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1030.0055Smith K. G. Editor’s comments. Academy of Management Review. 1999;24(4):611–613. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1999.2553242Smith K. G. Editor’s comments. Academy of Management Review. 1999;24(4):611–613. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1999.2553242Kincaid A. E. Wiley and Hindawi to retract 1,200 more papers for compromised peer review. Retraction Watch. April 5, 2023. Available at: https://retractionwatch.com/2023/04/05/wiley-and-hindawi-to-retract-1200-more-papers-for-compromised-peer-review/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).Kincaid A. E. Wiley and Hindawi to retract 1,200 more papers for compromised peer review. Retraction Watch. April 5, 2023. Available at: https://retractionwatch.com/2023/04/05/wiley-and-hindawi-to-retract-1200-more-papers-for-compromised-peer-review/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).Flynn J. Guest post – Addressing paper Mills and a way forward for journal security. The Scholarly Kitchen. April 4, 2023. Available at: https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2023/04/04/guest-post-addressing-paper-mills-and-a-way-forward-for-journal-security/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).Flynn J. Guest post– Addressing paper Mills and a way forward for journal security. The Scholarly Kitchen. April 4, 2023. Available at: https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2023/04/04/guest-post-addressing-paper-mills-and-a-way-forward-for-journal-security/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).Candal-Pedreira C., Ross J. S., Ruano-Ravina A., Egilman D. S., Fernández E., Pérez-Ríos M. Retracted papers originating from paper mills: Cross sectional study. BMJ. 2022;379:e071517. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2022-071517Candal-Pedreira C., Ross J. S., Ruano-Ravina A., Egilman D. S., Fernández E., Pérez-Ríos M. Retracted papers originating from paper mills: Cross sectional study. BMJ. 2022;379:e071517. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2022-071517COPE and STM. Paper Mills Research. January 1, 2006. https://doi.org/10.24318/jtbG8IHLCOPE and STM. Paper Mills Research. January 1, 2006. https://doi.org/10.24318/jtbG8IHLLiverpool L. AI intensifies fight against ‘paper mills’ that churn out fake research. Nature. 2023;618(7964):222–223. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-01780-wLiverpool L. AI intensifies fight against ‘paper mills’ that churn out fake research. Nature. 2023;618(7964):222–223. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-01780-wWang J. Z., Pourang A., Burrall B. Open access medical journals: Benefits and challenges. Clinics in Dermatology. 2019;37(1):52–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2018.09.010Wang J. Z., Pourang A., Burrall B. Open access medical journals: Benefits and challenges. Clinics in Dermatology. 2019;37(1):52–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2018.09.010Elsevier. Journal pricing. Available at: https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies-and-standards/pricing (accessed: 11.12.2024).Elsevier. Journal pricing. Available at: https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies-and-standards/pricing (accessed: 11.12.2024).Lithosphere. Curating a Special Issue. Available at: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/lithosphere/pages/curating-special-issue (accessed: 11.12.2024).Lithosphere. Curating a Special Issue. Available at: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/lithosphere/pages/curating-special-issue (accessed: 11.12.2024).IET Special Issue Guidelines. Institution of Engineering and Technology. Available at: https://ietresearch.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/special-issue-guidelines (accessed: 11.12.2024).IET Special Issue Guidelines. Institution of Engineering and Technology. Available at: https://ietresearch.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/special-issue-guidelines (accessed: 11.12.2024).Butler L.-A., Matthias L., Simard M.-A., Mongeon P., Haustein S. The oligopoly’s shift to open access. How the Big Five Academic Publishers Profit from Article Processing Charges. Quantitative Science Studies. 2023;4(4):778–799. https://doi.org/10.1162/qss_a_00272Butler L.-A., Matthias L., Simard M.-A., Mongeon P., Haustein S. The oligopoly’s shift to open access. How the Big Five Academic Publishers Profit from Article Processing Charges. Quantitative Science Studies. 2023;4(4):778–799. https://doi.org/10.1162/qss_a_00272Grossmann A., Brembs B. Current market rates for scholarly publishing services. F1000Research. 2021;10:20. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.27468.2Grossmann A., Brembs B. Current market rates for scholarly publishing services. F1000Research. 2021;10:20. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.27468.2Richtig G., Berger M., Lange-Asschenfeldt B., Aberer W., Richtig E. Problems and challenges of predatory journals. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2018;32(9):1441–1449. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.15039Richtig G., Berger M., Lange-Asschenfeldt B., Aberer W., Richtig E. Problems and challenges of predatory journals. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2018;32(9):1441–1449. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.15039Aumiller W., Newman A. Be our guest: Requirements for ACS Publications’ (virtual) special issues and the crucial role of guest editors. ACS Publications Chemistry Blog. 2023. Available at: https://axial.acs.org/publishing/requirements-for-acs-publications-virtual-special-issues-and-the-crucial-role-of-guest-editors (accessed: 11.12.2024).Aumiller W., Newman A. Be our guest: Requirements for ACS Publications’ (virtual) special issues and the crucial role of guest editors. ACS Publications Chemistry Blog. 2023. Available at: https://axial.acs.org/publishing/requirements-for-acs-publications-virtual-special-issues-and-the-crucial-role-of-guest-editors (accessed: 11.12.2024).Aliukonis V., Poškutė M., Gefenas E. Perish or publish dilemma: Challenges to responsible authorship. Medicina. 2020;56(3):123. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina56030123Aliukonis V., Poškutė M., Gefenas E. Perish or publish dilemma: Challenges to responsible authorship. Medicina. 2020;56(3):123. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina56030123WAME. Ghost Writing Initiated by Commercial Companies. June 20, 2005. Available at: https://wame.org/ghostwriting-initiated-commercial-companies (accessed: 11.12.2024).WAME. Ghost Writing Initiated by Commercial Companies. June 20, 2005. Available at: https://wame.org/ghostwriting-initiated-commercial-companies (accessed: 11.12.2024).Emerald Publishing. Guidelines for Special Issue Guiest Editors – JEIM. 2024. Available at: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/jeim/guidelines-special-issue-guest-editors-jeim (accessed: 11.12.2024).Emerald Publishing. Guidelines for Special Issue Guiest Editors– JEIM. 2024. Available at: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/jeim/guidelines-special-issue-guest-editors-jeim (accessed: 11.12.2024).Think. Check. Submit. Identify trusted publishers for your research. Available at: https://thinkchecksubmit.org/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).Think. Check. Submit. Identify trusted publishers for your research. Available at: https://thinkchecksubmit.org/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).GAJET list: Good academic journal in ethical terms. Available at: https://gajetlist.org/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).GAJET list: Good academic journal in ethical terms. Available at: https://gajetlist.org/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).McQuaid E. L., Everhart R. S. Introduction to the special issue: Clinical approaches to address health disparities in pediatric psychology. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology. 2020;8(2):97–102. https://doi.org/10.1037/cpp0000325McQuaid E. L., Everhart R. S. Introduction to the special issue: Clinical approaches to address health disparities in pediatric psychology. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology. 2020;8(2):97–102. https://doi.org/10.1037/cpp0000325Nnawulezi N., Lippy C., Serrata J., Rodriguez R. Doing equitable work in inequitable conditions: An introduction to a special issue on transformative research methods in gender-based violence. Journal of Family Violence, 2018;33(8):507–513. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-018-9998-8Nnawulezi N., Lippy C., Serrata J., Rodriguez R. Doing equitable work in inequitable conditions: An introduction to a special issue on transformative research methods in gender-based violence. Journal of Family Violence. 2018;33(8):507–513. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-018-9998-8Lo L. S. My new favorite research partner is an AI: What roles can librarians play in the future? College & Research Libraries News. 2023;84(6):209–211. https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.84.6.209Lo L. S. My new favorite research partner is an AI: What roles can librarians play in the future? College & Research Libraries News. 2023;84(6):209–211. https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.84.6.209Wong R. Role of generative artificial intelligence in publishing. What is acceptable, what is not. Journal of Extra Corporeal Technology. 2023;55(3):103–104. https://doi.org/10.1051/ject/2023033Wong R. Role of generative artificial intelligence in publishing. What is acceptable, what is not. Journal of Extra Corporeal Technology. 2023;55(3):103–104. https://doi.org/10.1051/ject/2023033Elsevier. Generative AI policies for journals. 2024. Available at: https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies-and-standards/generative-ai-policies-for-journals (accessed: 11.12.2024).Elsevier. Generative AI policies for journals. 2024. Available at: https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies-and-standards/generative-ai-policies-for-journals (accessed: 11.12.2024).MDPI. Research and publication ethics. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/ethics (accessed: 11.12.2024).MDPI. Research and publication ethics. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/ethics (accessed: 11.12.2024).Robinson M. Taylor & Francis clarifies the responsible use of AI tools in academic content creation. February 17, 2023. Available at: https://newsroom.taylorandfrancisgroup.com/taylor-francis-clarifies-the-responsible-use-of-ai-tools-in-academic-content-creation/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).Robinson M. Taylor & Francis clarifies the responsible use of AI tools in academic content creation. February 17, 2023. Available at: https://newsroom.taylorandfrancisgroup.com/taylor-francis-clarifies-the-responsible-use-of-ai-tools-in-academic-content-creation/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).Stokel-Walker C. ChatGPT listed as author on research papers: Many scientists disapprove of articles crediting the AI tool as co-author. Nature. 2023;613(7945):620–621. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-00107-zStokel-Walker C. ChatGPT listed as author on research papers: Many scientists disapprove of articles crediting the AI tool as co-author. Nature. 2023;613(7945):620–621. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-00107-zLazarus E. F. Artificial intelligence-assisted editorial tools: Case studies. Science Editor. 2021;44(4):e7–e9. https://doi.org/10.36591/SE-D-4404-e7Lazarus E. F. Artificial intelligence-assisted editorial tools: Case studies. Science Editor. 2021;44(4):e7–e9. https://doi.org/10.36591/SE-D-4404-e7About COPE. COPE: Committee on publication ethics. Available at: https://publicationethics.org/about/our-organisation (accessed: 11.12.2024).About COPE. COPE: Committee on Publication Ethics. Available at: https://publicationethics.org/about/our-organisation (accessed: 11.12.2024).ICMJE. Recommendations. January 2024. Available at: https://icmje.org/recommendations/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).ICMJE. Recommendations. January 2024. Available at: https://icmje.org/recommendations/ (accessed: 11.12.2024).

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.