Duty to Report Ethical Violations of Others

What is this about?

This is a fictional case of a graduate research assistant’s dilemma of raising his suspicions of data duplication in a professor’s team under whose grant he works.

Why is this important?

This case raises the question of when does one act with integrity in research? And where does one’s responsibility lie when it comes to research violations performed by others?

It is also a firm reminder of the different power dynamics and positions held in an institution when it comes to reporting misconduct or, as in this case, whistleblowing.

For whom is this important?

Academic staffSupervisorsProfessorsJunior researchers

Other information

Virtues & Values

Good Practices & Misconduct

Whistleblowing