Research Misconduct as White-Collar Crime

A Criminological Approach

verfasst von: Prof. Rita Faria

Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

This book explores the subject of research misconduct: its definition, what behaviours should fall under its label, and the types of preventive and repressive procedures that should be put to practice to combat it. Adopting a criminological perspective, Faria views research misconduct as a locus of analysis for corporate and white-collar crime. Based upon an empirical study involving in-depth interviews and documentary analysis, this original research offers an interesting approach to an age-old problem which is growing ever more important.
The commodification of research – together with perceived risks of research misconduct – is opening the way to ambiguous and ineffective forms of social control over scholars, affecting their commitment to research integrity and the responsible conduct of research. Despite this, however, little consensus around the phenomenon exists. Seeking to counter this, Faria opens up the discussion on the potential social harms arising from the current state of affairs, and argues that that criminology should task itself with understanding and researching the pressing topic of research misconduct, including fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism, as well as questionable research practices.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Why Should Criminology Study Research Misconduct?

Abstract

In this chapter, the need for a criminological approach to research misconduct is defended. It is argued that criminology is especially well prepared, from a theoretical, conceptual, and methodological point of view, to produce empirical knowledge about the topic, and to sustain theories about its causes, processes, and harms, as well as about the formal and informal social reaction to it. Specifically, much of what has been produced about white-collar crime, in its sub-dimensions of occupational and organizational crime, may be applied to the topic of research misconduct. Thus, a promising area of criminological intervention and research is identified and claims are made about the need to be systematically explored.

Rita Faria

Chapter 2. What Is Research Misconduct?

Abstract

This chapter answers the question ‘what is research misconduct?’ from conceptual, empirical, and theoretical standpoints, by producing an overview of the relevant scientific literature on the topic. It aims to describe how it has been defined, what is known about it, how it has been explained, and what has been done to prevent it. Strict and wide definitions of research misconduct are provided, along with empirical results of studies of fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism (FFP), as well as questionable research practices (QRP) and social control practices. The chapter also presents a critical analysis of concepts stating their strengths and weaknesses, pinpoints methodological limitations to the current empirical research, and identifies possible future lines of enquiry.

Rita Faria

Chapter 3. Good Luck with the Research That Will End Your Career

Abstract

In this chapter, an account is given of the methodological choices and procedures that enabled the author to conduct empirical research on research misconduct. A research design mainly centred on qualitative methods was chosen, in contrast to most of the existing current studies using quantitative methodologies. An account of specificities to take into consideration when conducting qualitative studies is given, as well as descriptions of the research design, sampling procedures, and analyses conducted in the study. The challenges encountered when researching one’s own peers and working environment are also described, as well as the solutions found for overcoming such challenges.

Rita Faria

Chapter 4. What Do Researchers Know and Perceive About Research Misconduct?

Abstract

Results of the empirical research conducted on the topic of research misconduct are presented. It is argued that the qualitative and grounded analysis undertaken offers insight into what situations interviewees consider to fall under research misconduct or, at least, to be problematic and reproachable. Situations of dubious and fraudulent authorship practices, problematic methodological procedures such as fabrication of data, bias in peer assessment, and conflicts of interest were found. The interviews also revealed the perceived processes and causes enabling such situations to occur. Finally, the convergence of goals such as obtaining recognition and looking for funding showed how individual interpretations of organizational culture may account for research misconduct.

Rita Faria

Chapter 5. Preventing, Regulating, and Punishing Research Misconduct: Myth or Reality?

Abstract

In the first part of this chapter, the results of interviews with scholars about perceived social control mechanisms of research misconduct are presented: the results show a general lack of known rules, procedures, and consequences of research misconduct. It is argued that inefficient social control may be regarded as organizational misconduct and facilitate the convergence of individual and organizational goals, with a subsequent general disregard for integrity and methodological rules. The chapter goes on to integrate the results of a document analysis of formal international documents regulating research misconduct, concluding that conflicting control models of hetero-regulation versus self-regulation are currently being designed for European research. Special attention is paid to definitions of research misconduct according to such policy documents and to the actors involved in the control of the research activity, as well as justifications for the proposed models of control. These are described in detail, together with their limitations and shortcomings, and a critical analysis is provided of existing loopholes and enforcement difficulties.

Rita Faria

Chapter 6. A Criminological Agenda for Studying Research Misconduct

Abstract

In this chapter the author puts forward reflections on the results obtained with the empirical study, as well as future research directions that may be enriching for criminology. Research misconduct is considered to be an inspiring topic for white-collar, occupational, and organizational crime scholars. The chapter also provides some wider context for what seem to be the main features of scientific endeavour in the twenty-first century, hoping that it may help to explain further the results described in previous chapters. Across the chapter, considerations about the need for criminological study on research misconduct are entertained, and the social harms caused by it are also addressed.

Rita Faria

Backmatter

Titel: Research Misconduct as White-Collar Crime
verfasst von: Prof. Rita Faria
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-319-73435-4
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-73434-7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73435-4