Questionable Research Practices: A Principled Classification and Ranking Based on Survey Data.
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| Title: | Questionable Research Practices: A Principled Classification and Ranking Based on Survey Data. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Fanelli, Daniele1,2 (AUTHOR) email@danielefanelli.com, Voodla, Alan3,4 (AUTHOR), Andres, Siim3 (AUTHOR), Uusberg, Andero3 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Science & Engineering Ethics. Jun2026, Vol. 32 Issue 3, p1-17. 17p. |
| Subjects: | Research ethics, Research integrity, Data analysis, Fraud in science, Questionnaires, Authorship, Nondisclosure |
| Abstract: | Questionable Research Practices (QRPs) are a highly diverse set of behaviours that eludes clear definition and demarcation. This study collects and organises definitions of QRPs given in surveys, and ranks them by frequency of reported engagement. We systematically retrieved surveys that asked researchers about their engagement with QRPs, and organised these survey definitions in two non-arbitrary classifications based, respectively, on the area of research affected by the QRP (e.g. authorship, data, analysis, etc...), and on the nature of the alteration of information entailed by the QRP (respectively, whether the QRP consisted in an omission, addition, or modification of information). Starting from this principled classification, we then created a list of non-overlapping QRP types that have been most commonly studied in surveys. We found that QRPs are more commonly reported when they pertain to the interpretation, analysis or citations, and when they involved the omission, rather than the addition or modification of information. Classified by type, the most commonly reported QRPs included "select analysis", "select citation", and "select covariates"; whilst the least commonly reported included "deny authorship", and "FFP" (i.e. explicit fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, which are not QRPs but outright misconduct). Our QRP taxonomy and empirical results may find useful applications in research, training and policy-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Science & Engineering Ethics is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 194225150 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Questionable Research Practices: A Principled Classification and Ranking Based on Survey Data. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fanelli%2C+Daniele%22">Fanelli, Daniele</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> email@danielefanelli.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Voodla%2C+Alan%22">Voodla, Alan</searchLink><relatesTo>3,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Andres%2C+Siim%22">Andres, Siim</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Uusberg%2C+Andero%22">Uusberg, Andero</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Science+%26+Engineering+Ethics%22">Science & Engineering Ethics</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 32 Issue 3, p1-17. 17p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+ethics%22">Research ethics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+integrity%22">Research integrity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis%22">Data analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fraud+in+science%22">Fraud in science</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Questionnaires%22">Questionnaires</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Authorship%22">Authorship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nondisclosure%22">Nondisclosure</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Questionable Research Practices (QRPs) are a highly diverse set of behaviours that eludes clear definition and demarcation. This study collects and organises definitions of QRPs given in surveys, and ranks them by frequency of reported engagement. We systematically retrieved surveys that asked researchers about their engagement with QRPs, and organised these survey definitions in two non-arbitrary classifications based, respectively, on the area of research affected by the QRP (e.g. authorship, data, analysis, etc...), and on the nature of the alteration of information entailed by the QRP (respectively, whether the QRP consisted in an omission, addition, or modification of information). Starting from this principled classification, we then created a list of non-overlapping QRP types that have been most commonly studied in surveys. We found that QRPs are more commonly reported when they pertain to the interpretation, analysis or citations, and when they involved the omission, rather than the addition or modification of information. Classified by type, the most commonly reported QRPs included "select analysis", "select citation", and "select covariates"; whilst the least commonly reported included "deny authorship", and "FFP" (i.e. explicit fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, which are not QRPs but outright misconduct). Our QRP taxonomy and empirical results may find useful applications in research, training and policy-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Science & Engineering Ethics is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1007/s11948-026-00589-w Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 17 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Research ethics Type: general – SubjectFull: Research integrity Type: general – SubjectFull: Data analysis Type: general – SubjectFull: Fraud in science Type: general – SubjectFull: Questionnaires Type: general – SubjectFull: Authorship Type: general – SubjectFull: Nondisclosure Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Questionable Research Practices: A Principled Classification and Ranking Based on Survey Data. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Fanelli, Daniele – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Voodla, Alan – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Andres, Siim – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Uusberg, Andero IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 13533452 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 32 – Type: issue Value: 3 Titles: – TitleFull: Science & Engineering Ethics Type: main |
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