13.01.12
Evidence of research misconduct in the UK
A BMJ survey has revealed that more than 13% of UK-based scientists or doctors have witnessed colleagues altering or fabricating data during their research or for the purposes of publication.
6% say they are aware of possible research misconduct at their institution that has not been properly investigated.
The results suggest that research misconduct is still frequent in theUKand highlights the need for better systems to deter, detect and investigate research misconduct.
The survey also reflects previous research among newly appointed consultants in sevenUKhospitals. One in ten said they had first-hand knowledge of scientists or doctors intentionally altering or fabricating data, and 6% admitted to past personal research misconduct.
The full results of the survey will be presented inLondontoday, at a meeting hosted by the BMJ and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), which aims to push for a consensus among institutions and funders towards tackling misconduct in theUK.
Dr Fiona Godlee, BMJ editor, said: “While our survey can’t provide a true estimate of how much research misconduct there is in the UK, it does show that there is a substantial number of cases and that UK institutions are failing to investigate adequately, if at all. The BMJ has been told of junior academics being advised to keep concerns to themselves to protect their careers, being bullied into not publishing their findings, or having their contracts terminated when they spoke out.”
However, she says solutions are already being aired in advance of the meeting and she is confident that the meeting will prompt action from the research community.
COPE chair, Dr Elizabeth Wager, said: “This survey chimes with our experience from COPE where we see many cases of institutions not cooperating with journals and failing to investigate research misconduct properly.”
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