What are the elements required for finding research misconduct?

A finding of research misconduct made under the PHS Regulations and the Policy requires that: (a) there be a significant departure from accepted practices of the relevant research community; and (b) the misconduct be committed intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly; and (c) the allegation be proven by a preponderance ...

How do you determine official research misconduct?

Deciding Official (DO) means the institutional official who makes final determinations on allegations of research misconduct and any institutional administrative actions.

How do you know what is considered research misconduct?

Research misconduct means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.

What is evidence for research misconduct?

part 689), it's "fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing or performing research funded by NSF, reviewing research proposals submitted to NSF, or in reporting research results funded by NSF." A finding of research misconduct requires proof by a preponderance of evidence that the act is a significant ...

What are the three actions that constitute research misconduct?

In accordance with U.S. federal policy, there are three forms of research misconduct: plagiarism, fabrication, and falsification.

Research Misconduct and Integrity

What are 3 reasons that drive people to commit research misconduct?

A range of possible reasons were posited: (1) career and funding pressures, (2) institutional failures of oversight, (3) commercial conflicts of interest, (4) inadequate training, (5) erosion of standards of mentoring, and (6) part of a larger pattern of social deviance.

What are the phases of research misconduct allegation?

Responding to Allegations of Research Misconduct

There are three stages of response to an allegation of misconduct: (1) assessment, (2) inquiry, and (3) investigation. Each of these stages is explained fully in university SAP 15.99. 03.

What is not considered in research misconduct?

In addition, the federal statement says that to be considered research misconduct, actions must represent a “significant departure from accepted practices,” must have been “committed intentionally, or knowingly, or recklessly,” and must be “proven by a preponderance of evidence.” According to the statement, “research ...

What is the most common form of research misconduct?

Plagiarism is, perhaps, the most common form of research misconduct. Researchers must be aware to cite all sources and take careful notes. Using or representing the work of others as your own work constitutes plagiarism, even if committed unintentionally.

What does research misconduct not include?

For example, the U.S. government defines misconduct as “fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results” and also notes “Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion” (Office of Science and Technology Policy, 2000 ...

What academic misconduct may include?

Academic misconduct, broadly speaking, is any action which gains, attempts to gain, or assists others in gaining or attempting to gain unfair academic advantage. It includes plagiarism, collusion, contract cheating, and fabrication of data as well as the posession of unauthorised materials during an examination.

What are examples of reasons for committing research misconduct?

Research misconduct arises from various factors such as pressure to publish, competition for grants, and career advancement. Lack of supervision, inadequate training in ethical research practices, and poor research culture can contribute.

Can you go to jail for research misconduct?

Only serious cases of research misconduct should be considered as fraud and, hence, criminalized, i.e., merit criminal punishment such as fines or incarceration. All are serious cases and nothing but serious cases. Fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism could be firm candidates to be considered as fraud.

What is an allegation of misconduct?

An allegation of misconduct is a claim made by one party about something wrong, improper or illegal that has or has not been done by another party. Misconduct refers to any conduct, of any person, that involves serious or persistent harassment, bullying, fraud, corruption or conflict of interest.

How is research misconduct handled?

A response to an allegation of research misconduct will usually consist of several phases, including: (1) an inquiry--the assessment of whether the allegation has substance and if an investigation is warranted; (2) an investigation--the formal development of a factual record, and the examination of that record leading ...

Whose responsibility is it to identify and report research misconduct?

Since every case of misconduct can potentially undermine public support for research, researchers should take their responsibility to look out for and report research misconduct seriously.

What does research misconduct refer mainly to?

Research misconduct means making up or falsifying data, manipulating data analyses, or misrepresenting results in research reports. It's a form of academic fraud.

What are improper activities of research misconduct?

Research Misconduct is Fabrication, Falsification, or Plagiarism in Research Activities or Deliberate Interference. It does not include honest error or differences of opinion. Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them.

What is the first phase in response to research misconduct?

Inquiry. The Inquiry consists of information gathering and fact-finding to determine as a preliminary matter whether an allegation of Research Misconduct warrants further, formal review. The Inquiry should follow promptly, if called for, after the Vice President for Research's initial assessment of the allegations.

How do you mitigate research misconduct?

What are the penalties for research misconduct?

The penalties may include (depending upon the nature of misconduct): Correction of the research record. Letters of reprimand. Suspension or termination of a research grant.

Is research misconduct a crime?

When FFP occurs in federally funded research (including in proposals for research grants), it is a federal crime that can be punished severely with fines, loss of funding eligibility, and even imprisonment.

What is an example of scientific misconduct?

Making up data or results (fabrication), changing or misreporting data or results (falsification), and using the ideas or words of another person without giving appropriate credit (plagiarism)—all strike at the heart of the values on which science is based.

Is scientific misconduct a crime?

“If someone defrauds tax payers with research money and falsifies data or falsifies entire research results, it is no different than any other form of similar economic crime.”

Which are the 4 types of academic misconduct violations?