Fighting Falsehoods and Writing it Right: The Role of Internal QC in Scientific Writing

Scientific quality checking, also known as fact-checking, is a process that goes beyond verification of statements made in a scientific publication. It requires the validation of numerical data, textual consistency, cited references, formatting and alignment with the source documents and regulatory standards. In a time when information is disseminated quickly across numerous platforms, this procedure is essential to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of scientific discourse [1]. As a lot of scientific discussions are happening online, a comprehensive quality-checking process can play an essential role limiting the spread of misinformation and ensuring that the scientific content shared online is carefully checked and scientifically correct [1,2]. The need for a rigorous internal QC process has become all the more urgent and apparent due to the spread of misinformation on social media platforms following the COVID-19 pandemic [2].

Scientific quality checking now includes cross-verification with original datasets, reference validation, checking consistency across versions, and applying editorial style guidelines [1]. These steps ensure that researchers, policymakers, and scientific organisations are aware of the negative effects of unchecked misinformation on public trust, policymaking, and health outcomes. These steps also ensure that the scientific document developed after a complete internal QC meets the highest standards of accuracy [3].

Therefore, before a scientific document is delivered, a well-executed internal QC step not only avoids downstream corrections but also shows professionalism, diligence, and a dedication to producing error-free documents. A thorough internal QC process can make the difference between a submission that is perfect and one that is full of rework requests. Publishers and scientific organisations require documents with almost no errors so they can concentrate on assessing scientific content rather than fixing basic mistakes. In order to standardize the assessment of automated fact-checking systems and guarantee transparency, dependability, and conformity to best practices in scientific validation sign up for our checklist.

Although fact-checking has long been acknowledged as a crucial instrument in political discourse and journalism, its significance in scientific literature is now clearer than ever. Research shows that thorough fact-checking can dramatically lower the amount of people who believe false information, highlighting its importance in preserving an informed public and scientific community [3]. In the future, AI may be an internal companion or a peer that could help a writer with impeccable data fact-checking, contributing to high quality document [2].

References

1. ​Vladika J, Matthes F. Scientific Fact-Checking: A Survey of Resources and Approaches. arXiv. Published online May 26, 2023.
2. Quelle D and Bovet A (2024) The perils and promises of fact-checking with large language models. Front. Artif. Intell. 7:1341697.
3. Porter E, Wood TJ. The global effectiveness of fact-checking: Evidence from simultaneous experiments in Argentina, Nigeria, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Sep 14;118(37):e2104235118.

Authors:

Sweaksha Langoo (MSc. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry)
Scientific Writer – Enago Life Sciences
Connect with Sweaksha on LinkedIn

Raghuraj Puthige, PhD., eMDP
Function Head, Medical Communications – Enago Life Sciences
Connect with Raghuraj on LinkedIn