Integrity of the Research Process - Evidence of Misconduct
Personal Attributes. One of the first things to be considered is the personal attributes of the researcher. Is there evidence of
dishonesty
self-delusion
favoritism
extreme bias
emotional instability
recklessness
anti-social disorder
rigid thinking
sensation seeking
Technical Questions. Fairness requires that those involved in a misconduct investigation be technically qualified or have technical advisors so as to reach the correct decision.
Recommended Reading. Evidence of misconduct is so complex that, rather than continue, I recommend the following:
Responsible Science - Ensuring the Integrity of the Research Process Volumes I and II (1992). Published by the National Academies of Science.
Honor in Science (1991). Pamphlet published by Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society.
Federal Rules of Evidence. See www.judiciary.house.gov
Betrayers of the Truth by Broad and Wade (1982).
The Scientific Method Today - my pamphlet can be reviewed as to where there may be serious violations of the usual procedures of the research process.
In my research on the scientific method, the most frequent evidence of misconduct that I noticed was in the social sciences. The ignoring of contrary evidence seems to be widely prevalent.
This ends, for the time being, my series on integrity.
