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572. Why Is There So Much Fraud in Academia?

Freakonomics Radio

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Incentives in Academia and Self-Deception

Humans are adept at self-deception, and researchers have several reasons to believe they have the answers to problems, including pro-social reasons and self-interest. The desire to help people and to gain attention, promotion, and survival in academia can lead to overselling of research work. The pressure to have successes may result in exaggeration, even though scientific integrity requires calibration and carefulness. These incentives in academia can conspire against the scientific method, leading rational researchers to cheat, despite most not doing so simply because of the incentives.

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