Research misconduct is a serious offense that occurs quite frequently in the academic community. It is heart-breaking when some researchers violate authorship rights and pocketing years of somebody’s hard work. Thus, it is crucial to monitor plagiarism and unfair practices in scientific research carefully. This paper aims to consider why research misconduct occurs, analyze some examples, and propose possible ways to avert this unlawful practice.
For example, a doctor of physics has worked for the university research department for years and has gained respect for a number of successfully published works. He is pushed by the head of the department to win a grant to earn their university recognition in the scientific circles. The man feels constant pressure of a limited timeframe and a lack of scientific data to conduct the research.
Often, institutional leaders are more interested in obtaining an enviable reputation than quality results. This is one of the main reasons why even honourable researchers are forced to infringe upon research integrity. To prevent this from happening, it is crucial to reassess the research environment (Fanelli et al., 2015). The transparent and fair timeframe must be ensured for the researches so that it is possible to provide high-quality results.
Another example is illustrated by the situation of a young biochemistry research assistant who recently started working for an institution and is trying to gain professional recognition from the leading researchers. If a woman succeeds in producing outstanding scientific results in her work, she will be able to participate in high-level projects. So, the woman decides to fabricate the results of the research for her own benefit.
It is another common reason for research misconduct – using the scientific field to prove oneself successful rather than to achieve actual results for the common good. To prevent the unscrupulous people from entering the scientific grounds, the operation of young research assistants must be carefully mentored (Fanelli et al., 2015). Special programs for research assistants must be provided, alongside ensuring that strict evaluating rules are established and carefully followed.
To conclude, the reasons for research misconduct may vary, and, so, the approaches to resolve the issue must vary as well. However, it all comes to reconstructing the research environment so that all the unfair acts are not only punished but also intercepted at the very core of the scientific institutions. Only by establishing strict, clear regulations for conducting research can its integrity be preserved.
Reference
Fanelli, D., Costas, R., & Lariviere, V. (2015). Misconduct policies, academic culture and career stage, not gender or pressures to publish, affect scientific integrity. PloS One, 10(6), 1-18. Web.