Research Fraud

Research fraud troubles UK scientists

Michael Cook | 27 January 2012

“Dishonesty is common and institutionalized in medicine and medical research,” says a UK cardiologist, Peter Wilsmhurst, who has spent years trying to expose research misconduct and has reported more than 20 doctors to the General Medical Council.

Dutch “Lord of the Data” forged dozens of studies: report

Jared Yee | 04 November 2011

A leading Dutch social psychologist fabricated or manipulated information in dozens of research papers over almost a decade, an investigation has concluded.

Scientists credited on ghostwritten research “should be charged with fraud”

Jared Yee | 12 August 2011

Doctors and scientists who add their names to medical articles they have not written should be charged with professional misconduct and fraud, Canadian legal experts say.

“But has it been peer-reviewed?”

Michael Cook | 30 July 2011

A peer-reviewed study is commonly regarded as the gold standard for truth and trustworthiness in scientific research. However, after several prominent scandals involving suggestions of research fraud, concern about its usefulness has spread beyond academe. So much so that a committee of the UK’s House of Commons has just published a report on the peer review process. Since the government is a major funder of research, its opinions matter.

Harvard morality researcher waits for judgement

Michael Cook | 28 October 2010

Do the errors have an innocent explanation?