Integrity of the Research Process - Findings of Research Misconduct
Under Federal regulations as published in the Federal Register, vol 65, no. 235, December 6, 2000, findings are defined as:
“A finding of research misconduct requires that:
There be a significant departure from accepted practices of the relevant research community; and
The misconduct be committed intentionally, or knowingly, or recklessly; and
The allegation be proven by a preponderance of evidence.”
These descriptions are so broad that great care must be exercised in claiming misconduct. Such a charge is a very serious matter.
Sigma Xi publishes an excellent booklet Honor in Science. It quotes C.P. Snow (The Search, 1959):
“The only ethical principle which has made science possible is that the truth shall be told all the time. If we do not penalise false statements made in error, we open up the way, don’t you see, for false statements by intention. And of course a false statement of fact, made deliberately, is the most serious crime a scientist can commit.”
It goes on to say:
“It is not sufficient for the scientist to admit that all human activity, including research, is liable to involve errors; he or she has a moral obligation to minimize the possibility of error by checking and rechecking the validity of the data and the conclusions that are drawn from the data.”
To this I would like to add a warning to do a thorough search and not ignore contrary evidence, since this could be defined as “reckless.”
