Background

Research on research integrity has tended to focus on frequency of research misconduct and factors that might induce someone to commit research misconduct. A definitive answer to the first question has been elusive, but it remains clear that any research misconduct is too much. Answers to the second question are so diverse, it might be productive to ask a different question: What about how research is done allows research misconduct to occur?

Methods

With that question in mind, research integrity officers (RIOs) of the 62 members of the American Association of Universities were invited to complete a brief survey about their most recent instance of a finding of research misconduct. Respondents were asked whether one or more good practices of research (e.g., openness and transparency, keeping good research records) were present in their case of research misconduct.

Results

Twenty-four (24) of the respondents (39% response rate) indicated they had dealt with at least one finding of research misconduct and answered the survey questions. Over half of these RIOs reported that their case of research misconduct had occurred in an environment in which at least nine of the ten listed good practices of research were deficient.

Conclusions

These results are not evidence for a causal effect of poor practices, but it is arguable that committing research misconduct would be more difficult if not impossible in research environments adhering to good practices of research.

中文翻译：

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研究诚信官员对与研究不端行为相关的研究实践的看法的调查研究

背景

关于科研诚信的研究往往侧重于科研不端行为的频率以及可能诱导某人进行科研不端行为的因素。第一个问题的明确答案一直难以捉摸，但很明显，任何研究不当行为都太过分了。第二个问题的答案如此多样，提出一个不同的问题可能会富有成效：研究是如何进行的，会导致研究不端行为的发生？

方法

考虑到这个问题，美国大学协会 62 名成员的科研诚信官员 (RIO) 受邀完成一项简短调查，了解他们最近发现的科研不端行为实例。受访者被问及他们的研究不当行为中是否存在一种或多种良好的研究实践（例如，公开和透明、保存良好的研究记录）。

结果

二十四 (24) 名受访者（回复率为 39%）表示他们已处理过至少一项研究不当行为的调查结果并回答了调查问题。超过一半的 RIO 报告称，他们的研究不当行为发生在所列的 10 项良好研究实践中至少有 9 项存在缺陷的环境中。

结论

这些结果并不是不良实践造成因果影响的证据，但有争议的是，在坚持良好研究实践的研究环境中，研究不端行为即使不是不可能，也会更加困难。