Research Integrity
Research Integrity
GAO to Study Potential Federal Interference in Science
According the Washington Post, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) will undertake a study of federal agenciesā scientific integrity policies and potential federal interference in the scientific process at the request of Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL). Nelson, the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, made the request in a letter dated September 25, 2017. Citing concerns stemming from reports of possible interference in the scientific process at the Environmental Protection Agency, changes to agenciesā public information related to climate change, and the cancellation of a study that might be damaging to the fossil fuel industry, Nelson asked…
National Academies Releases New Research Integrity Report
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released the Committee on Responsible Scienceās report, Fostering Integrity in Research, on April 11. The report assesses the state of research integrity, including trends, challenges, and educational efforts, updating the 1992 Academies report, Responsible Science. The 1992 report proposed the current definition of research misconduct, defined as the āfabrication, falsification, or plagiarismā of research. The new report supports retaining that definition, but also calls for the recognition of detrimental research practices (DRPs). DRPs are āquestionable research practices, such as the misleading use of statistics that falls short of falsification and failure to…