Research Integrity & Scientific Misconduct Flashcards

What does the acronym FFP represent in the context of research misconduct?

Answer: Fabrication, Falsification, and Plagiarism

FFP stands for Fabrication, Falsification, and Plagiarism — the three categories of research misconduct defined by US federal policy (42 CFR Part 93).

Which US federal office is primarily responsible for overseeing research integrity and investigating misconduct allegations at PHS-funded institutions?

Answer: Office of Research Integrity (ORI)

The Office of Research Integrity (ORI) oversees and directs Public Health Service research integrity activities, including reviewing institutional investigations of misconduct allegations.

Which of the following best defines data fabrication in scientific research?

Answer: Making up data, results, or findings and recording or reporting them as real

Data fabrication is the act of inventing or making up data, results, or findings that were never actually observed or collected.

Under 42 CFR Part 93, which of the following is explicitly excluded from the definition of research misconduct?

Answer: Honest differences in the interpretation of data

42 CFR Part 93 explicitly excludes honest error and differences of scientific opinion from the definition of research misconduct.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training is federally required for trainees and students receiving support from which agency?

Answer: National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIH requires RCR training for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and undergraduate students supported by NIH training grants and career development awards.

When a researcher first suspects research misconduct by a colleague, what is the appropriate initial step?

Answer: Report the concern to the institution's research integrity officer or ombudsman

Suspected misconduct should be reported to the institution's designated research integrity officer, who is trained to handle such matters confidentially and per federal procedures.

A predatory journal is best described as a publication that:

Answer: Exploits the open-access model by charging fees without providing legitimate peer review or editorial services

Predatory journals exploit the open-access fee model by accepting papers and collecting fees without conducting legitimate peer review, editorial oversight, or quality control.