Abstract
This article presents results from the national survey conducted in 2018 for the project Research Integrity in Norway (RINO). A total of 31,206 questionnaires were sent out to Norwegian researchers by e-mail, and 7291 responses were obtained. In this paper, we analyse the survey data to determine attitudes towards and the prevalence of fabrication, falsification and plagiarism (FFP) and contrast this with attitudes towards and the prevalence of the more questionable research practices (QRPs) surveyed. Our results show a relatively low percentage of self-reported FFPs (0.2–0.3%), while the number of researchers who report having committed one of the QRPs during the last three years reached a troublesome 40%. The article also presents a ranking of the perceived severity of FFP and QRPs among Norwegian researchers. Overall, there is a widespread normative consensus, where FFP is considered more troublesome than QRPs.
Highlights
Introduction and backgroundResearch integrity and breaches of research integrity have gained increased attention the last two decades
A new Norwegian law, the Act concerning the organisation of work on ethics and integrity in research (Research Ethics Act), superseding the previous Act of 2006, was passed in 2017, delegating more responsibility to higher education and research institutions
We will analyse the main parts of the data from the survey on attitudes towards and the prevalence of falsification and plagiarism (FFP) and questionable research practices (QRPs), applying a univariate analysis
Summary
Research integrity and breaches of research integrity have gained increased attention the last two decades. New forms of problematic conduct are arising. Many countries have adopted research integrity guidelines, but these differ significantly between countries—even within Europe (Godecharle et al, 2014). Some countries have adopted laws to regulate ethics in research, among them Norway. A new Norwegian law, the Act concerning the organisation of work on ethics and integrity in research (Research Ethics Act), superseding the previous Act of 2006, was passed in 2017, delegating more responsibility to higher education and research institutions. Extended author information available on the last page of the article
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