How common is scientific misconduct?

Although not much is known about the prevalence of scientific misconduct, several studies with limited methods have estimated that the prevalence of scientists who have been involved in scientific misconduct ranges from 1\% to 2\%.

Do scientists falsify data?

An estimated 8\% of scientists who participated in an anonymous survey of research practices at Dutch universities confessed1 to falsifying and/or fabricating data at least once between 2017 and 2020. More than 10\% of medical and life-science researchers admitted to committing this type of fraud, the survey found.

How much research is fabricated?

A pooled weighted average of 1.97\% (N = 7, 95\%CI: 0.86-4.45) of scientists admitted to have fabricated, falsified or modified data or results at least once–a serious form of misconduct by any standard–and up to 33.7\% admitted other questionable research practices.

How often are studies retracted?

The data confirm that the absolute number of retractions has risen over the past few decades, from fewer than 100 annually before 2000 to nearly 1000 in 2014. But retractions remain relatively rare: Only about four of every 10,000 papers are now retracted.

Is scientific misconduct increasing?

The number of research misconduct allegations made to NSF-OIG annually has more than tripled over the past decade (Mervis, 2013). Research misconduct findings by ORI have shown less of an upward trend in the past decade, with 12 findings in 2003, 8 in both 2004 and 2005, 14 in 2012, 12 in 2013, and 13 in 2014.

Why might a scientist falsify a study?

It is commonly hypothesized that scientists are more likely to engage in data falsification and fabrication when they are subject to pressures to publish, when they are not restrained by forms of social control, when they work in countries lacking policies to tackle scientific misconduct, and when they are male.

How do scientists cover up falsified data?

When scientists falsify data, they try to cover it up by writing differently in their published works. A pair of Stanford researchers have devised a way of identifying these written clues. Stanford communication scholars have devised an ‘obfuscation index’ that can help catch falsified scientific research before it is published.

Do scientists know of colleagues who have committed research misconduct?

Many surveys have asked scientists directly whether they have committed or know of a colleague who committed research misconduct, but their results appeared difficult to compare and synthesize. This is the first meta-analysis of these surveys.

Do scientific results ever hold up?

Fantastic scientific results, either the kind blasted across headlines or those which gradually make it into public awareness, are often so poorly made that the results don’t hold up; they don’t capture anything real about the world. The book is a wake-up call for a scientific establishment often too blinded by its own erudite proclamations.

Can scientists identify falsified research before it is published?

The work, published in the Journal of Language and Social Psychology, could eventually help scientists identify falsified research before it is published. There is a fair amount of research dedicated to understanding the ways liars lie.