Researchers have estimated that the direct cost of an investigation into a case of scientific misconduct is $525,000 (£341,000).

A group from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in New York has developed a model that estimates the monetary costs of scientific misconduct cases. The calculations take into account the cost of an inquiry panel, analysis of lab books and computer data, the withdrawal of grants and the relocation of innocent staff from an affected group. The paper also describes meta-analysis of surveys published last year, which showed that approximately 2 per cent of respondents admitted to scientific misconduct and 14 per cent reported knowledge of such behaviour by their colleagues.

In the last reporting year, the Office of Research Integrity received reports of 217 cases of alleged misconduct in the US. According to this new model, the direct cost of investigating these would exceed $110 million.

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New research suggests that the increasing use of bibliometric parameters to evaluate academic success could be compromising research objectivity and integrity.

By analysing over 1300 academic papers published in the US, a study suggests that research is more likely to support a tested hypothesis if the authors are located in more academically ‘productive’ states. The link between positive outcomes and academic productivity, independent of discipline and funding availability, could be due to the so called ‘publish or perish’ culture, where competition is encouraged and scientific careers depend on publication rates.

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