1. “Scientific Misconduct: Falsification, Fabrication and Plagiarism”
Ingrid Nygaard, MD, MS
Editor-in-Chief for Gynecology
American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
University of Utah
Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

2. Scientific misconduct:
Falsification, fabrication and plagiarism: the unholy trinity of scientific writing
Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

3. JAMA Int Med
JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175:

4. Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Out of the Peer-Reviewed Literature
57 published trials ID’d for which FDA inspection found significant evidence of misconduct, including 22 trials with falsification
In 78 publications of these trials, findings were rarely reflected in peer-reviewed literature
Publicly available documents,
Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

5. Falsification
Manipulating research materials, equipment or processes or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record
Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

7. Falsification Example
ORI (Office of Research Integrity) ruled in 2015 that graduate student supported by NIH grants engaged in misconduct
Knowingly removed outlier values or replaced outliers with mean values to produce results conforming to predictions
1 of 11 misconduct actions imposed by ORI in 2015
Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

8. ORI Settlement
For 3 years may not participate in PHS-supported research until supervision plan is approved by ORI
Institution must certify to ORI that all data are accurate and legitimate
May not serve in any advisory capacity to PHS
Must advise publishers of need to retract/correct papers
Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

9. Fabrication Making up data or results and recording or reporting them.
Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

10. Fabrication Example
ORI ruled in 2015 that postdoctoral scholar supported by NCI knowingly fabricated Western blot images by manipulating images to give the desired results, and quantitative PCR data and cell invasion and migration data
Similar settlement
Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

11. Plagiarism
The appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit (U.S. Office of Research Integrity)
Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

12. Plagiarism NOT THE SAME AS:
Redundant publication: copying and republishing your own work (“self-plagiarism”; “text recycling”)
Copyright infringement: material protected by copyright used without consent
Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

13. Redundant publication “Self-plagiarism”
Is republishing your own work plagiarism if you have used only your own words and ideas?
Some consider this ‘literary theft’ – presenting as new an ‘old’ product
But can infringe on publisher’s copyright
Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

14. Plagiarism Most journals use tools to detect previous publication
iThenticate: searches 14+billion web pages, 100+ million articles, books, conference proceedings
Editor’s action during submission process depends on extent
Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

15. Research Misconduct
Does not include honest error or differences of opinion
Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.

16. AJOG Policy
Allegations of inappropriate acts in the publication process will be assessed by the Editors and referred to the sponsoring Institution for review, inquiry, and/or investigation, and disposition.
AJOG will make decisions about retraction of published work based upon evaluation of the information provided by the Institution and other information available to the Journal.
Ingrid Nygaard, AJOG, 2016.