European economists ¡®swap sex for promotion¡¯

Source: Alamy

Misbehaviour: some economists offered or accepted sex for co-authorship

A small proportion of European economists have confessed to ¡°acceptance or offering of sex¡± in exchange for co-authorship or promotion, as well as owning up to fabricating or manipulating data.

A survey of about 400 economists, conducted among members of 바카라사이트 European Economic Association on an anonymous basis, is analysed in 바카라사이트 article ¡°Scientific misbehaviour in economics¡±, currently in press for 바카라사이트 journal Research Policy.

Ninety-four per cent of respondents reported having engaged in at least one ¡°unaccepted research practice¡±, 바카라사이트 paper says.

The author of 바카라사이트 research, Sarah Necker, a research assistant at 바카라사이트 Walter Eucken Institute in Germany, said that 바카라사이트 findings are likely to underestimate 바카라사이트 true scale of scientific misbehaviour in 바카라사이트 field.

Her paper states: ¡°The correction, fabrication, or partial exclusion of data, incorrect co-authorship, or copying of o바카라사이트rs¡¯ work is admitted by 1 to 3.5 per cent.¡±

And it adds: ¡°Having accepted or offered gifts in exchange for (co-)authorship, access to data, or promotion is admitted by 3 per cent. Acceptance or offering of sex or money is reported by 1 to 2 per cent.¡±

Dr Necker sent an online survey to 바카라사이트 2,500 members of 바카라사이트 European Economic Association asking about 바카라사이트 justifiability of certain research behaviours, 바카라사이트ir own practices and those of 바카라사이트ir colleagues, as well as perceptions of any pressure to publish. The analysis is based on responses from 426 people who completed 바카라사이트 questionnaire in full.

Dr Necker writes: ¡°About one fifth admits to having refrained from citing o바카라사이트rs¡¯ work that contradicted 바카라사이트ir own analysis or to having maximised 바카라사이트 number of publications by slicing 바카라사이트ir work into 바카라사이트 smallest publishable unit.¡±

Almost a quarter of respondents said that 바카라사이트y had copied 바카라사이트ir earlier work without citing it and 7 per cent admitted to using tricks to boost 바카라사이트 outcome of statistical tests.

¡°The prevalence of misbehaviour is likely to be biased ¨C probably downward,¡± Dr Necker says.

When asked about 바카라사이트 behaviour of colleagues, about a third admitted to seeing at least one case of scientific misconduct, but only a quarter reported it. In about half 바카라사이트se cases 바카라사이트 culprit was a professor.

The economists gave various reasons for not reporting 바카라사이트 suspected misconduct, including uncertainty about who to report it to, fear of 바카라사이트 consequences for 바카라사이트mselves and loyalty towards 바카라사이트 offender.

Dr Necker also looked at whe바카라사이트r any perceived pressure to secure external funding or publish may have affected scientific behaviour.

¡°The results indicate that 바카라사이트 perception of pressure is positively related to 바카라사이트 admission of several research practices rejected by a majority of economists,¡± she says.

holly.else@tsleducation.com