A Series on the Integrity of the Research Process
The integrity of the research process and the use of the scientific method are subjects of increased importance and interest. For a while, I will discuss various aspects of integrity in my daily blog.
Today we have a very competitive situation for government and foundation grants. This puts a great deal of pressure on researchers. Human nature being what it is, some researchers will be tempted to fudge things or do something that is dishonest. Thus it is important that we have a code of ethics and integrity that is well understood and taught.
Complex research is a very inefficient endeavor. Everything is not black and white. Searching, exploring, and creative work are difficult. There will always be honest errors and differences of opinion, so what is ethical may often be hard to determine. The natural science community has been in the front rank in promoting an honor system in research. The social sciences - if they are to be truly sciences - must follow their leadership in promoting integrity in their domains.
Our first subject will be honesty, as it is the foundation of integrity.
