ETHICAL MALPRACTICES IN ACADEMIC WRITING

GENERAL CONSEQUENCES

May put other researchers on the wrong track, wasting time and research
funds.
Dilutes integrity of other scientific research, both from that author(s) and
from others in the same field
Affect public trust in scientific enterprise, make people distrust scientist. If
the public is mistrustful of science then it will be less willing to provide
funding support and accept scientific findings.

FABRICATION
1. Data fabrication means the researcher did not actually do the study, but
made up data
2. Fabrication is the intentional act of making up data or results and recording or
reporting them.
3. Examples
In the social sciences, a researcher/interviewer completing a questionnaire
for a fictitious subject that was never interviewed.
In the biological sciences, the creation of a data set for an experiment that
was never actually conducted.
FALSIFICATION
1. Data falsification means the researcher did the experiment, but then changed
some of the data
2. Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or
changing or omitting/suppressing data or results without scientific or
statistical justification, such that the research is not accurately represented in
the research record. This would include the "misrepresentation of uncertainty"
during statistical analysis of the data.
3. Examples
Alteration of data to render a modification of the variances in the data
Falsification of dates and experimental procedures in the study notebook
Misrepresenting the results from statistical analysis
Misrepresenting the methods of an experiment such as the model used to
conduct the experiment
The addition of false or misleading statements in the manuscript or
published paper.
Falsification of research accomplishments by publishing the same research
results in multiple papers (self plagiarism)
Misrepresentation of the materials or methods of a research study in a
published paper
Providing false statements about the extent of a research study
AVOID DATA FABRICATION AND FALSIFICATION

Respect your data and readers, write only you know to be true

Practice humility, do not over limit in interpreting data

Copyright to protect the rights of authors to benefit their work.
Academic intergrity and originality. Acknowledge other sources.

PLAGIARISM
1. Plagiarism is 'the act of representing as one's own original work the creative
works of another, without appropriate acknowledgment of the author or
source'.
2. 'creative works' includes: published and unpublished written documents,
interpretations, computer software, designs, music, sounds, images,
photographs, and ideas or ideological frameworks gained through working
with another person or in a group. These works may be in print and/or
electronic media.
3. PLAGIARISM refers to the practice of claiming credit for the words, ideas, and
concepts of others
4. SELF PLAGIARISM refers to the practice of presenting ones own previously
published work as though it were new
5. Self-Plagiarism is defined as a type of plagiarism in which the writer
republishes a work in its entirety or reuses portions of a previously written
text while authoring a new work.
6. Ways to avoid:I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.

Paraphrase and using your own words

Citing properly using document formatting guidelines (i.e. APA, MLA,
chicago, etc.) used by your educational institution or the institution that
issued the research request.
Quoting & citing quotes - When quoting a source, use the quote exactly
the way it appears.
Citing Your Own Material to avoid self plagiarism
Referencing using the document formatting guidelines used by your
educational institution.