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Table 1 Potential laboratory based misconduct

From: Unethical practices within medical research and publication – An exploratory study

Misconduct

Details

Individuals involved

Replicates without bordersa

Constantly repeating experiments until the data becomes statistical significance

PhD students

Confirmed negative controlsa

The use of a neutral substance that is known to have no effects in the experiment to ensure negative results.

PhD students and Post-doctoral researchers

Universal Positive controla

Reusing previously produced positive control for new experiments

PhD students, Post-doctoral researchers and academics

Ghost repeatsa

Using results from the same experiment as results of repeated experiments.

PhD students

Data mininga

Stealing others’ ideas/data stored in laboratory computers

Post-doctoral researchers

Image manipulation

Manipulating images to suit the hypothesis (or to show significance)

PhD students and post-doctoral researchers

Selective usagea

Ignoring data/information that would reduce significance (or disprove hypothesis)

PhD students

Ignoring contamination

Purposely ignoring contamination as the data effectively proves the hypothesis

PhD students

Not following health & safety (H&S) regulations

Failing to carry out H&S checks, avoid producing own H&S data sheets and/or using the data sheets produced by others (without understanding the risk or aversion measures)

PhD students, post-doctoral researchers and academics/PIs

  1. aIndicates the common nick names provided by the laboratory staff for the acts provided