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Scope Note
Understand what research misconduct is and the importance of maintaining integrity in the scientific enterprise.
Definition of Research Misconduct
As an agency under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), NIH follows the Public Health Service (PHS) Policies on Research Misconduct 42 CFR 93 . Research misconduct means fabricating, falsifying, and/or plagiarizing in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results. It does not include honest error or differences of opinion.
| Type of Misconduct | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fabrication | Making up data or results and recording or reporting them | In order to meet recruitment pressure and expectations, a study coordinator completed trial enrollment forms using faked names and participants' information. The study coordinator then created data for these nonexistent participants |
| Falsification | Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record. | Investigators might falsify results by removing data points from a graph to give the appearance of a effect in the treatment group. |
| Plagiarism |
The appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or
words without giving appropriate credit.
|
N/A |