Researchers Overestimate Adherence to Good Research Practice, Study Finds
Summary
A new study conducted among over 11,000 Swedish researchers identifies significant overestimation among researchers regarding their adherence to good research practice compared to their peers. The study reveals a widespread belief in one’s own ethical superiority, not just individually but also across entire research fields. These findings raise concerns about interdisciplinary collaboration and emphasize the need for increased self-awareness and ethical vigilance in the scientific community.
Key Facts
- Over 55% of researchers believe they adhere to good practices as well as or better than their peers, a statistical improbability.
- Nearly 63% rate their research field’s ethical standards as high or higher than others, with medicine showing the greatest overestimation.
- The study underscores the human tendency to view oneself and one’s group in a favorable light, potentially hindering objective self-assessment and interdisciplinary cooperation.
About the Study
A study conducted by researchers at Linköping University in Sweden reveals that researchers commonly overestimate their adherence to good research practices compared to their colleagues. The study involved gathering responses from over 11,000 researchers by sending them a questionnaire based on the Swedish Research Council’s rules for good research practice. The results, recently published in the journal Scientific Reports, indicate a statistical impossibility, with nearly all researchers considering themselves as good as or better than average. Furthermore, the researchers observed similar overestimations of honesty across all research fields, with the greatest effect observed within the medical sciences.
Increased Self-Awareness and Ethical Vigilance Needed
The Linköping researchers highlight the risk of researchers becoming blind to their own ethical shortcomings and the tendency to overestimate the ethical conduct within their own research field. They caution that even small missteps in research practice can escalate in number and impact. Furthermore, the study suggests that exaggerated perceptions of ethical conduct in different research fields can contribute to polarization and hinder interdisciplinary collaboration.
Implications and Reflection
The study shows that researchers, despite their ethical training, are influenced by psychological processes that affect their self-perception. The authors emphasize the necessity of researchers constantly reassessing and recalibrating their research-ethical compasses. To ensure credibility and avoid ethical shortcomings, increased self-awareness and collaboration between research fields are crucial.
Source
The original research article, “Bounded research ethicality: researchers rate themselves and their field as better than others at following good research practice” by Gustav Tinghög et al., is published in the journal Scientific Reports.
