Title: Inconsistent Data Among Researchers
Author: Anji Wall
Description: Inconsistent data compels an author to report suspected misconduct to the university.
Keyword(s): Collaborative Research, Data Integrity, Reporting Suspected Misconduct
Based On: (Shamoo & Resnik, 2003, p. 116)
Case: Three investigators collaborated on a project, submitting a publication when it was complete. When reading the submitted version, one author found that the data presented in one of the tables did not correlate with the data that was in the table of the last draft. He asked his coauthors about this inconsistency, but did not receive a satisfactory explanation. He decided to bring a complaint to the university about the data in the submitted paper. The university conducted an inquiry that did not come to any conclusions about who modified the table. The laboratory notebooks showed that the data in the draft was correct. However, because the university could not determine who modified the table, they closed the inquiry.
- Were the actions of the investigator who reported the error to the university appropriate?
- Since the paper was not yet published, was a university inquiry necessary?
- Was the response of the university appropriate?
- Should the paper be withdrawn from submission?
Source: Shamoo, A., & Resnik, D. (2003). Responsible Conduct of Research. New York: Oxford University Press.