In order to understand the rationale for ethical standards related to publication, it is useful to consider first the scholarly role of publication.

Publication has been viewed as a means of broadly disseminating ideas. It has the advantage over oral presentation of providing much more flexibility over when and where one can gain access to the ideas. A talk given at a conference is valuable to those in attendance; a paper published in a conference proceedings distributes the information to a much wider audience and is available for years to come.

The publication process will usually involve some quality control as well. Authors can get useful reactions to their manuscripts from editors and reviewers. These "jurying" features enhance the manuscripts’ value for writers and readers.

Most manuscripts undergo at least grammatical editing by someone other than the author. In respected publication houses, the editing is more substantial. "Peer-reviewed journals" also screen for content. Prior to publication, the paper is sent to one or more peers in the field for comments on its suitability for publication and how it might be usefully modified.

Finally, authors use publication as a means of documenting their contributions to their disciplines. This evidence can then bolster their case for promotion or for funding for more research.

Ideally, then, publication helps establish an enduring record of scholarly activity. Thus, an important attribute of the publication process is accuracy in documenting the scholarly activity.