Falsification
From The Embassy of Good Science
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ThemesFalsification
What is this about?
Falsifcation is altering a part of the research process, often to let the results appear more sensational and relevant than they are in reality. Next to fabrication and plagiarism, falsifcation is considered as serious research misconduct. It is defined by the European Code of Conduct as “manipulating research materials, equipment or processes or changing, ommitting or suppressing data or results without justification”.[1]
Why is this important?
Falsifying data is a serious form of research misconduct. Falsified data includes omitting or adding data points, removing outliers in a dataset and manipulating images. Image manipulation is a special form of falsifcation, as it uses software to edit photos, usually of laboratory tests, to let the results appear more convincing. This concerns blots, gels, micrographs and radiological images. [2] Fabricating data is making up non-existing results, where falsifying data is to edit, add, remove or alter results and/or data sets. Falsified results, when detected, lead to sanctions for the perpetrator. Sanctions include retractions of papers, and often the end of a career in research. Falsification of data is to be discouraged and prevented.
For whom is this important?
The Embassy Editorial team, Iris Lechner contributed to this theme. Latest contribution was Oct 12, 2020
Other information
- ↑ European Science Foundation, All European Academies. The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. 2017.
- ↑ Springer. Data fabrication / data falsification. Available at: https://www.springer.com/gp/authors-editors/editors/data-fabrication-data-falsification/4170. Accessed 29 May, 2019.
