Up to a third of scientists have engaged in ethically questionable practices over the last three years, according to a survey published in today's issue of the British science journal Nature.
The surveyed behaviors range from extremely serious acts such as fraud and plagiarism -- which were committed by only a fraction of a percent to 1. 4 percent, respectively -- to acts that are ethically far more ambiguous, such as ignoring data that contradict one's theory.
The worst thing we can say about a scientist ignoring data contradicting his theory is that it's ethicially ambiguous?
The survey does not necessarily mean that one-third of all the biomedical scientists surveyed are guilty of misconduct, as many of their acts are subject to varying interpretations, cautions the study's lead author, sociologist Brian C. Martinson of HealthPartners Research Foundation in Minneapolis, which sponsors research on health-related issues.
Emphasis added. You should see my raised eyebrows.
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