6.5 Threats to research integrity | Quantitative methods | Practice, Ethics and Integrity | UvA

Summary

The integrity of research is threatened by fraud, plagiarism, conflicts of interest, and undue influence from personal values. Fraud, whether through fabrication or falsification of data, contaminates scientific literature and hinders progress. Plagiarism undermines originality, creating redundant information and misrepresenting findings. Conflicts of interest, particularly in medical research, can lead to biased results, while undue influence can compromise objectivity. To combat these issues, transparency, pre-registration of studies, and adherence to ethical guidelines are essential for maintaining the credibility of scientific research.

Takeaways

• 📉 Research integrity can be compromised by fraud, plagiarism, conflicts of interest, and undue influence from personal values.
• 🧪 Fraud involves fabricating or falsifying data, which damages scientific progress and contaminates the literature with false claims.
• 🔍 Fabrication means creating data that was never collected, while falsification refers to altering existing data.
• 💸 Fraud wastes funding on invalid research and affects the reputation of legitimate researchers in the field.
• 📜 Plagiarism occurs when original work is copied without proper attribution, undermining intellectual property and creating redundancy in scientific literature.
• 🚫 Self-plagiarism happens when previously published work is presented as new, complicating information access and failing to credit original authors.
• 💊 Conflicts of interest are common in medical research, particularly when researchers are funded by companies with vested interests, potentially skewing results.
• 📣 Researchers should disclose conflicts of interest to help readers assess the credibility of their studies.
• 👁️ Undue influence from personal beliefs can lead researchers to disregard objectivity and valid critiques, compromising the scientific process.
• 📋 Pre-registration of research and thorough documentation can deter fraudulent practices by increasing transparency and accountability.

Q & A

What are the main threats to research integrity mentioned in the script?

The main threats to research integrity include fraud, plagiarism, conflicts of interest, and undue influence of personal values.

How does fraud impact scientific literature?

Fraud contaminates the scientific literature with false empirical data, hindering scientific progress and leading researchers to pursue baseless lines of inquiry.

What distinguishes fabrication from falsification in research fraud?

Fabrication involves creating data that was never collected, while falsification means altering existing data to misrepresent results.

What are the consequences of exposing research fraud?

Exposing research fraud damages the reputation and credibility of the field, making it harder for honest researchers to obtain funding.

What is plagiarism in the context of research integrity?

Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else's substantial scientific contributions, including text or data, as one's own without proper citation.

What is self-plagiarism, and why is it problematic?

Self-plagiarism occurs when an author presents their previously published work as original. It complicates the scientific literature by creating redundancy and failing to credit co-authors.

How do conflicts of interest affect research outcomes?

Conflicts of interest, especially in medical sciences, can lead researchers to favor positive results that align with their funding sources, potentially compromising objectivity.

What role does transparency play in preventing research fraud?

Transparency, including pre-registration of hypotheses and documentation of research methods, helps discourage fraud by allowing others to verify data and procedures.

What challenges exist in implementing guidelines for research documentation?

Guidelines for documenting and pre-registering research proposals are not always implemented consistently and can vary significantly between and within scientific fields.

How can undue influence of personal values impact scientific research?

When researchers allow their strong personal convictions to influence their interpretations of data, they risk abandoning objectivity and the principles of scientific inquiry.