Integrity of the Research Process - The Misconduct Be Committed Intentionally, or Knowingly, or Recklessly
Misconduct must include three elements listed in my May 5, 2006 comments. This is the second necessary element. There are occasional frauds done intentionally or knowingly, but the ones that present the greater danger and uncertainty are those done recklessly.
In my comments of May 5, 2006 I point out that not doing a thorough search and ignoring contrary evidence could be defined as “reckless.” It could be also be defined as “significant departure from accepted practices of the relevant research community.”
The dangerous situation of research being done recklessly should be impressed on all researchers. I believe that it is not a big problem in the natural sciences. However, in the social sciences, including education, it is a huge problem. Evidence for this is the many comments about the unreliability of research in the social sciences.
What should be done? First, we need an educational campaign to teach researchers in the social sciences that they must follow the scientific method (SM-14 type) in their research.
Second, government agencies that make grants should enforce the requirement that the scientific method be used.
Third, government grantees should be careful to follow the scientific method (SM-14 type) for their own protection.
