Scientific misconduct

Scientific misconduct is the violation of the standard codes of <a href="/facts/Scholarly_method/W4eDafUn">scholarly conduct</a> and <a href="/facts/Ethics/wNVNgL5q">ethical behavior</a> in the publication of <a href="/facts/Professional/Nmq2oUMU">professional</a> <a href="/facts/Science/IJoaD7rs">scientific research</a>. It is the violation of <a href="/facts/Scientific_integrity/HxAvsC7y">scientific integrity</a>: violation of the <a href="/facts/Scientific_method/182j8RWE">scientific method</a> and of <a href="/facts/Research_ethics/mo8joeTL">research ethics</a> in <a href="/facts/Science/IJoaD7rs">science</a>, including in the <a href="/facts/Design_of_experiments/VMrNftbr">design</a>, <a href="/facts/Experiment/esltM54f">conduct</a>, and <a href="/facts/Scientific_literature/nJh0Bx22">reporting</a> of research. 
A <a href="/facts/The_Lancet/UYtU5P4P">Lancet</a> review on Handling of Scientific Misconduct in Scandinavian countries provides the following sample definitions, reproduced in The COPE report 1999:

<ul><li>Danish definition: "Intention or gross negligence leading to fabrication of the scientific message or a false credit or emphasis given to a scientist"</li>
<li>Swedish definition: "Intention[al] distortion of the research process by fabrication of data, text, hypothesis, or methods from another researcher's manuscript form or publication; or distortion of the research process in other ways."</li></ul>
The consequences of scientific misconduct can be damaging for perpetrators and journal audiences and for any individual who exposes it. In addition there are public health implications attached to the promotion of medical or other interventions based on false or fabricated research findings. Scientific misconduct can result in loss of <a href="/facts/Trust_(social_science)/bCpS9Yxg">public trust</a> in the integrity of science.
Three percent of the 3,475 research institutions that report to the <a href="/facts/US_Department_of_Health_and_Human_Services/eS90vYmd">US Department of Health and Human Services</a>' <a href="/facts/Office_of_Research_Integrity/B0Iqjh5d">Office of Research Integrity</a> (ORI) indicate some form of scientific misconduct. However the ORI will only investigate allegations of impropriety where research was funded by federal grants. They routinely monitor such research publications for red flags and their investigation is subject to a statute of limitations. Other private organizations like the Committee of Medical Journal Editors (COJE) can only police their own members.

Scientific misconduct open-in-new

Scientific misconduct