New survey questions scientific integrity

Academic researchers will always deny it, but a recent survey by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) suggests that as many as one in 10 British based scientists and doctors have witnessed colleagues deliberately altering or fabricating data in a way which accelerates the prospect of publication.

The increasing emphasis Governments have placed upon rewarding scientists with long and worthy records of published work may be generating a 'publish or perish' culture, with consequent dubious ethical outcomes as some individuals take expedient risks with their data and methodologies.

cartoon shows researcher altering data with whitewash

The survey, conducted by the BMJ in collaboration with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), analysed over 2,700 respondents, with the prospect of more answers forthcoming from the target group of over 9,000 surveyed.

The BMJ first reported its initial findings in January this year. The survey also revealed that six per cent of scientists said they were aware of possible misconduct at their institution that had not been properly investigated or scrutinised. The BMJ called for the creation of new formal mechanisms for overseeing research integrity. It condemned 'the prevailing view within the UK's research establishment that we don't have a problem'.

A spokesman explained: 'There are enough known or emerging cases to suggest that the UK's apparent shortage of publicly investigated examples has more to do with a closed, competitive, and fearful academic culture than with Britain's researchers being uniquely honest.'

The BMJ urged a new consensus among institutions and funders of research to tackle misconduct in the UK, and highlighted a gap in credibility when institutions do not co-operate with journals and fail to investigate any alleged research misconduct.

Indeed, the BMJ went further and revealed that they knew of junior academics advised to keep concerns to themselves to protect their careers, and even some who complained that they were bullied into not publishing their findings, or a few who risked having their contracts terminated if they spoke out.

Dr Fiona Godlee, BMJ Editor in Chief, 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.'

On a positive note, she explained she was confident that concerted action from the research community will be forthcoming. 'UK science and medicine deserve better. Doing nothing is not an option,' she says.

COPE Chair, Dr Elizabeth Wager, noted: '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.'

Dick Skellington 24 January 2012

Cartoon by Catherine Pain

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TweetAcademic researchers will always deny it, but a recent survey by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) suggests that as many as one in 10 British based scientists and doctors have witnessed colleagues deliberately altering or fabricating data in a way which accelerates the prospect of publication. The increasing emphasis Governments have placed upon rewarding scientists with long and ...

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Provocative, relevant, current: for the last decade Society Matters magazine has been informing, engaging and annoying social sciences students in equal measure. Now, its move online has given us the chance to bring its lively mix of analysis and opinion to a wider audience.

Society Matters online started in October 2010 and has, so far, covered a wide range of issues and topics ranging from inequality and the big society to arms sales and foreign policy. All can be seen by scrolling down from the top of the Society Matters front page.

We have also illustrated many of these posts with the work of our two illustrators (see below). Serious analyses have been interspersed with posts on a less weighty issues which show both human folly and innovation.

Society Matters continues to be edited by its original creator, Dick Skellington. Dick, pictured above, was previously a programme manager in the social sciences faculty, walks the talk through an active involvement in the affairs of his home town of Stony Stratford, Bucks, and finds light relief through writing poetry and the occasional stage appearance in local productions.

Since many years at the coalface of journalism have taught us all that sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words Dick is aided and abetted by resident illustrators, Gary Edwards and Catherine Pain – both former OU students.

Catherine has drawn and painted all her life, and when she is not pillorying public figures for Society Matters paints animal portraits, works in stained glass and produces alphabet teaching posters for children. Her work is in several galleries in and around her current home in Cambridgeshire and her publications include an illustrated cookbook sold on behalf of the National Trust, a colouring book for small children, Alphabet for Colouring, and The Lost Children, a story for older children. Her website is at catherinepain.co.uk

Gary has written two best-selling books about his travels all over the world watching Leeds United FC, Paint it White and Leeds United - The Second Coat. His third title No Glossing Over will be published by Mainstream in September 2011. He has not missed a Leeds game anywhere in the world since February 1968 and married his wife Lesley at Elland Road.

Specialising in wall murals, Gary also holds diplomas from the London Art College, The Morris College of Journalism, has a Diploma in Freelance Cartooning and Illustration and is a contributing cartoonist for Speakeasy, an English-speaking magazine in Paris. During the 1970's and 1980's he collected hearses and is a long time member of the Official Flat Earth Society as well as the Clay Pigeon Preservation Society.

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