Survey: half of scientists cheat sometimes

Survey: half of scientists cheat sometimes

Half of all scientists are sometimes guilty of dubious research practices. Even making up or manipulating research results is a regular occurrence.

This has emerged from a national survey of 6,813 researchers at Dutch universities and academic hospitals. They cover up the weaknesses of their research, do not publish disappointing results or only quote authors who support their own conclusions.

All in all, half of them do this on a regular basis. Researchers work more sloppily if they think they will not be caught anyway. A lack of supervision increases the chance of malpractice.

Only five universities (Nijmegen, Tilburg, Maastricht and the two Amsterdam universities) and three teaching hospitals (Nijmegen, Maastricht and Amsterdam) have actively supported the survey, to the disappointment of the driving forces behind the project.

HOP, Bas Belleman

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