Behavioral science fraud is on the rise, with 10,000 research papers retracted last year. The podcast discusses the motivations behind cheating, the impact of false findings on public policy and public health, and the challenges researchers face. It also delves into specific cases, such as a controversial research paper and fraud in an insurance paper. The speakers share their personal experiences and highlight the detrimental effects of fraud on the credibility of social science research.
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Quick takeaways
Academic fraud undermines public trust in scientific research and the credibility of researchers.
Transparency, rigorous methodology, and reproducibility are crucial for maintaining research integrity.
Efforts by organizations like the Center for Open Science and Data Colada aim to promote research integrity and improve the credibility of scientific research.
Deep dives
Concerns Over Academic Fraud and Research Misconduct
The podcast explores the prevalence of academic fraud and research misconduct, highlighting the case of a prominent researcher, Francesca Gino, who was suspended from Harvard Business School after an investigation revealed intentional research misconduct. The episode discusses the repercussions of fraud in academia and its impact on public trust and confidence in scientific research.
Challenges in Maintaining Research Integrity
The podcast delves into the challenges that researchers face in maintaining research integrity, including the pressure to publish interesting results, the influence of incentives, and the limitations of the academic reward system. It emphasizes the importance of transparency, rigorous methodology, and reproducibility in scientific research.
Efforts to Improve Scientific Research
The podcast highlights the efforts of organizations such as the Center for Open Science and Data Colada in promoting research integrity and improving the credibility of scientific research. It discusses initiatives such as large-scale replications, scrutiny of research methodology, and public disclosure of fraudulent findings to correct the scientific record and ensure the reliability of academic research.
Identifying Fraud in Academic Research
The podcast episode discusses the prevalence of academic fraud and the investigation into fraudulent papers. The researchers interviewed in the episode highlight the issue of fraud in academic journals and the impact it has on the credibility of research. They provide insights into the motivations behind academic fraud, such as the desire for recognition and career advancement. The episode also explores the challenges in detecting fraud and the need for more rigorous verification processes in academic research.
The Troubling Case of the "Signing at the Top" Paper
The episode focuses on a specific research paper titled "Signing at the Top Makes Ethics Salient and Decreases Dishonest Self Reports in Comparison to Signing at the End," published in a prestigious journal. The paper claimed that signing a form at the top would make individuals more likely to be truthful. However, subsequent investigations revealed potential fraud in the data and findings presented in the paper. The episode examines the consequences of such fraudulent research and the implications for the reputation of the authors, the journal, and the broader field of psychology and behavioral science.
Some of the biggest names in behavioral science stand accused of faking their results. Last year, an astonishing 10,000 research papers were retracted. We talk to whistleblowers, reformers, and a co-author who got caught up in the chaos. (Part 1 of 2)
SOURCES:
Max Bazerman, professor of business administration at Harvard Business School.
Leif Nelson, professor of business administration at the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business.
Brian Nosek, professor of psychology at the University of Virginia and executive director at the Center for Open Science.
Joseph Simmons, professor of applied statistics and operations, information, and decisions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Uri Simonsohn, professor of behavioral science at Esade Business School.
Simine Vazire, professor of psychology at the University of Melbourne and editor-in-chief of Psychological Science.