BACKGROUND: It's a crucial question that remains unanswered: How common is scientific misconduct? The actual numbers are a matter of great controversy. In a study conducted by Dr. Daniele Fanelli of the University of Edinburgh, he focused on behaviors that actually distort scientific knowledge (excluding data on plagiarism and other kinds of malpractice) and looked at how often scientists who recalled having a lapse in ethical behavior when it came to reporting results. On average, about 2 percent of scientists admitted they had made up, falsified or altered data to "improve the outcome" at least once. Up to 34 percent admitted to other questionable practices including "failing to present data that contradict one's own previous research" and "dropping observations or data points from analyses based on a gut feeling that they were inaccurate."

In surveys that asked about the behavior of colleagues, 14 percent of scientists knew someone who had made up or changed data and up to 72 percent knew someone who had committed other questionable research practices. In both surveys, medical and pharmacological researchers reported misconduct most frequently. Fanelli makes sure to add that in all surveys asking sensitive questions, it is likely that some people did not respond honestly, especially when talking about their own misconduct.

A dispute over misconduct and disclosure prompted one of the country's most prestigious medical journals to change its procedures. The controversy revolved around a 2006 study in the New England Journal of Medicine that said the widespread use of CT scans could prevent 80 percent of lung cancer deaths. However, critics said the journal and its publisher, the Massachusetts Medical Society, didn't disclose "relevant financial conflicts of interests of the authors." The study failed to report that the doctor's works had been underwritten in part by a $3.6 million grant from the parent company of a cigarette maker. The journal now asks authors to disclose all patents or royalties related to their research and it publishes the information with the studies.

One of the difficulties to address the issue of scientific misconduct at the international level stems from the wide diversity of definitions and procedures. For example, the US Office of research integrity has adopted "fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results," as a definition. The Committee on Publication Ethics preferred a broader definition: "Behavior by a researcher, intentional or not, that falls short of good ethical and scientific standards."

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