Scientific Misconduct Falsification Fabrication and Plagiarism Ingrid Nygaard

“Scientific Misconduct: Falsification, Fabrication and Plagiarism” Ingrid Nygaard, MD, MS Editor-in-Chief for Gynecology American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology University of Utah Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

Scientific misconduct: Falsification, fabrication and plagiarism: the unholy trinity of scientific writing Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

JAMA Intern Med. 2015; 175: 567 -77.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Out of the Peer-Reviewed Literature • 57 published trials ID’d for which FDA inspection found significant evidence of misconduct, including 22 trials with falsification • In 78 publications of these trials, findings were rarely reflected in peer-reviewed literature Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

Falsification • Manipulating research materials, equipment or processes or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

Falsification Example • ORI (Office of Research Integrity) ruled in 2015 that graduate student supported by NIH grants engaged in misconduct • Knowingly removed outlier values or replaced outliers with mean values to produce results conforming to predictions Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

ORI Settlement • For 3 years may not participate in PHSsupported research until supervision plan is approved by ORI • Institution must certify to ORI that all data are accurate and legitimate • May not serve in any advisory capacity to PHS • Must advise publishers of need to retract/correct papers Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

Fabrication • Making up data or results and recording or reporting them. Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

Fabrication Example • ORI ruled in 2015 that postdoctoral scholar supported by NCI knowingly fabricated Western blot images by manipulating images to give the desired results, and quantitative PCR data and cell invasion and migration data • Similar settlement Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

Plagiarism • The appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit (U. S. Office of Research Integrity) Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

Plagiarism • NOT THE SAME AS: – Redundant publication: copying and republishing your own work (“selfplagiarism”; “text recycling”) – Copyright infringement: material protected by copyright used without consent Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

Redundant publication “Self-plagiarism” • Is republishing your own work plagiarism if you have used only your own words and ideas? – Some consider this ‘literary theft’ – presenting as new an ‘old’ product • But can infringe on publisher’s copyright Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

Plagiarism • Most journals use tools to detect previous publication • i. Thenticate: searches 14+billion web pages, 100+ million articles, books, conference proceedings • Editor’s action during submission process depends on extent Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

Research Misconduct • Does not include honest error or differences of opinion Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

AJOG Policy • Allegations of inappropriate acts in the publication process will be assessed by the Editors and referred to the sponsoring Institution for review, inquiry, and/or investigation, and disposition. • AJOG will make decisions about retraction of published work based upon evaluation of the information provided by the Institution and other information available to the Journal. Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.