Periodic Reporting for period 2 - DEFORM (Define the global and financial impact of research misconduct)
Période du rapport: 2017-03-01 au 2018-07-31
Regarding motivation for RM the “promise tension” concept was introduced. The INSEEC team suggested that the source of misconduct relates to the tension between a research results promise (value creation promise) and the difficulty to reach this promise. Although not an excuse for misconduct it is suggested that the higher the difficulty to deliver, the higher the probability of misconduct to occur. Faced with “promise tension” research projects owners/sponsors have three pathways to choose from: (1) Retract and restart, (2) Redesign/end the research project, (3) Fraud. In the latter choice, institutional environments precluding alternate paths maybe a contributing factor. Misconduct cases and symptoms are, thus, to be considered globally, looking at research projects within their environment and planned use, and not with a unique focus on the direct perpetrator (the researcher).
Further, three numerical models (the Discovery Ratio (Dr), Occurrence(Or) and Visibility ratio (Vr)) were computed. The Or aims at forecasting potential occurrence of RM/fraud within a pool of research projects. To do so, INSEEC team computed the probability of misconduct within a global related infringement population (using a computed analogy between occupational crime and RM). The Dr covers the risk of being discovered within this occurrence perimeter. Finally, the Vr aims at computing the odd of a wrongdoer becoming visible, increasing thus, the potential of sanction implementation with further implications in increased financial interest in best practices. The concepts of severity and weighting as theorised by actuaries, were brought into the analysis in order to distinguish between different institutional responses. These are further project deliverables.
At this stage, DEFORM concludes that the structural, regulatory and institutional framework is potentially inadequately responding to RM. Improvements are studied which will show how the cost (including sanctions) of RM by all. This way, new practices may be realized moving away from stigmatizing isolated, individual researchers and focusing on the ‘science enterprise’ or else hold research and science accountable for not fulfilling their promises through societal and institutional pressures.