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Freakonomics Radio

573. Can Academic Fraud Be Stopped?

Jan 18, 2024
01:02:32
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Professors Max Bazerman and Leif Nelson discuss academic fraud and misconduct, highlighting the prevalence of misconduct in research. They explore the pressures researchers face in publishing, unconventional practices, and the challenges of peer review. They also emphasize the need for transparency in research and a new approach to the incentive system in academia.
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Quick takeaways

  • Academic research industry plagued with fraud due to lack of transparency and low accountability.
  • Pressure to publish and competition for limited spots contribute to fraudulent practices in academia.

Deep dives

Academic fraud is prevalent and often goes unpunished

Academic research industry is plagued with misconduct, including fraud, at various levels, from individual researchers to academic journals. The scale of fraud is difficult to quantify precisely, but it is estimated that around 2% of papers should be retracted due to fraud or severe error, while the actual retraction rate is only about 0.1%. The slow investigation process, lack of transparency in retraction notices, and universities' tendency to protect fraudsters contribute to the low accountability in the industry.

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