Psychologist Accused of Fraud on Astonishing Scale - Essay Example

Psychologist Accused of Fraud on Astonishing ScaleAbstractThe paper has explained scientific fraud and how it is committed by scientific researchers. It has explained some of the fraudulent acts for instance, fabrication, falsification and plagiarism. More emphasis has been on various consequences for both detected and undetected fraud cases. Finally, the paper explains on how different forms of fraud affect the society as a whole.IntroductionScientific fraud is manipulation of information and data to get certain desired outcome (Nemeroff & Craighead, 2002).

The common fraudulent acts in higher learning institutions include fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism. Some of the consequences of the detected fraud involve criminal charges, penalties, researchers being barred from publishing their works. For undetected fraud, there is always wrong documentation of data and information that can create a problem to other researchers and to the whole society. The acts of fraud can also lead to wrong policies being implemented.Scientific fraudAccording to Nemeroff & Craighead, (2002), scientific fraud is counterfeiting information or changing and altering data in order to maintain certain results.

Sometime scientific fraud includes biased evaluation of results and changing effecting data. Under the context of scientific fraud, there is illegal ownership of information that should be attributed to other persons or individuals. Scientific fraud can be generated from personnel bias in order to achieve certain targets where the calculations and observation are manipulated way far from the actual target. Scientific fraud is mainly caused by perceived pressure to continuously achieve at a high level and sometimes laziness among the scientific researchers.

Form of fraud committedThe fraudulent act the researcher committed is fabrication (Vogel, 2011). The researcher manipulated the research data and process in order to suit and reflect certain end product. He might also have committed the actual drafting of research data which do not reflect the exact outcome.Consequences of detected fraudSome of the consequences of fraud in research include sanctions such as preventing future publication of material from the offending authors in case of journals, disciplining authors and notifying outside funding sources so that they can stop funding the authors and Pressing of criminal charges against those who commit the fraud.

To the extreme cases, they can be banned from practicing their profession.Consequences of undetected fraudIf undetected, there will be wrong documentation of research data and research reports. Undetected fraud can lead to misleading data especially if the researcher omits critical information that is important (Nemeroff & Craighead, 2002). Undetected fraud can also lead to wrong knowledge being generated through the field of research. Types of fraudTypes of fraud common in higher learning are.

Plagiarism; an individual uses another individual’s work and does not acknowledge the true author. Falsification; a researcher can manipulate research materials, equipments, process changing or omitting data so that the research is not accurately represented in the research records. Fabrication; involves making up results and recording or reporting them. (Nemeroff & Craighead, 2002). Multiple publications; one can use the same content and information and write different titles and can include work in different languages.

It is also evident that violation of ethical standards in research can be another fraudulent act that is practiced in higher learning (Nemeroff & Craighead, 2002).Relation to the societyThe above mentioned issue relate to the society as whole significantly. The society depends on research to generate new ideas and information. Therefore, when one commits these fraudulent acts and manipulates data and even omits critical issues, then wrong policies and ideas might be formulated. In addition falsification and fabrication of data can lead to wrong outcomes; it may lead to negative outcome that is not desired to the society as whole.

ConclusionScientific fraud is the process of manipulating data to get some desired outcome. It is caused by the laziness of the researcher, fabrication of scientific data and career pressure of the researcher. Most common fraudulent cases in higher learning include fabrication, falsification and plagiarism. They are done either consciously or unconsciously. When cases of fraud are detected, they can lead to heavy penalties and may affect his or her career. However, the impact of the fraudulent acts can be felt by the society as whole especially when wrong outcome is used to make and implement policies.

References:Craighead, E & Nemeroff, C. (2002). The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science, 4: 21:28. Vogel, G. (2011, November 4). Psychologist Accused of Fraud on 'Astonishing Scale'. Science Magazine, 334 (6056): 579.