Morals, morale and motivations in data fabrication: Medical research fieldworkers views and practices in two Sub-Saharan African contexts.
Morals, morale and motivations in data fabrication: Medical research fieldworkers views and practices in two Sub-Saharan African contexts.
复制标题
DOI：
10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.08.019
复制
发表时间：
2016-10
影响因子：
5.4
通讯作者：
Gerrets, Rene
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Kingori, Patricia;Gerrets, Rene
数据伪造、不正确的收集策略和糟糕的数据管理被认为不利于高质量的科学研究。虽然数据管理不善偶尔会被原谅，但造假构成了一种重罪——科学不端行为。对造假的学术研究通常试图揭示和捕捉其普遍性，而较少的情况下，则是其后果和原因。大多数报道都集中在高收入国家、个别高级研究人员和科学家身上，他们被描绘成不理性、不道德或具有欺骗性。我们认为，这样的描述在忽略低收入国家由初级研究人员和非科学家在“实地”收集的数据方面存在局限性。此外，制造和颠覆实践的过程和动机尚未得到充分审查。本文利用2004-2009年在撒哈拉以南非洲医学研究项目中进行的两项独立的民族志，利用来自观察和非正式谈话、68次访谈和涉及不同利益相关者的7次焦点小组讨论的数据，调查了实地工作者的捏造行为。基于一种解释方法，我们检查了现场工作人员的说法，即捏造的动机是不可调和的道德关切，管理不善导致的士气低落，以及机构支持不足。对于现场工作人员来说，数据制作是一种管理日常挑战的“工具”。捏造从主动到被动的行为，旨在颠覆、抵制和解决因就业不平等和挑战社会经济条件而产生的紧张局势。我们表明，在当代国际医学研究配置中，高级研究参与者和实地工作者之间的地理和等级距离可以划分并最终破坏产生高质量数据所必需的关系。在关注现场工作者时，我们主张在数据制作的检查中包含广泛的观点。独特的专注于现场工作者的动机数据制作。超越了描述高级科学家在富裕背景下的捏造。实地工作者的动机与数据收集过程中的道德问题和士气问题有关。主张关注影响实地工作者实践的制度因素。
Data fabrication, incorrect collection strategies and poor data management, are considered detrimental to high-quality scientific research. While poor data management have been occasionally excused, fabrication constitutes a cardinal sin – scientific misconduct. Scholarly examinations of fabrication usually seek to expose and capture its prevalence and, less frequently, its consequences and causes. Most accounts centre on high-income countries, individual senior researchers and scientists who are portrayed as irrational, immoral or deceptive. We argue that such accounts contain limitations in overlooking data collected in ‘the field’, in low-income countries, by junior researchers and non-scientists. Furthermore, the processes and motivations for fabrication and subversive practices are under-examined. Drawing on two separate ethnographies, conducted in 2004–2009 in medical research projects in sub-Saharan Africa, this paper investigates fabrication among fieldworkers using data from observations and informal conversations, 68 interviews and 7 Focus Group Discussions involving diverse stakeholders. Based on an interpretative approach, we examined fieldworkers' accounts that fabrications were motivated by irreconcilable moral concerns, faltering morale resulting from poor management, and inadequate institutional support. To fieldworkers, data fabrication constituted a ‘tool’ for managing their quotidian challenges. Fabrications ranged from active to passive acts, to subvert, resist and readdress tensions deriving from employment inequalities and challenging socio-economic conditions. We show that geographical and hierarchical distance between high-ranking research actors and fieldworkers in contemporary configurations of international medical research can compartmentalise, and ultimately undermine, the relationships necessary to produce high-quality data. In focusing on fieldworkers, we argue for the inclusion of wide-ranging perspectives in examinations of data fabrication. Unique focus on fieldworker motivations for data fabrication. Moves beyond describing fabrications by high-ranking scientists in wealthy contexts. Fieldworkers motivations related to moral concerns and morale issues during data collection. Argues for focus on institutional factors shaping fieldworker practices.
登录
查看更多内容
影响因子：
15.8
作者：
Ana J;Koehlmoos T;Smith R;Yan LL
通讯作者：
Yan LL
影响因子：
2.2
作者：
Singer, M;Clair, S
通讯作者：
Clair, S
影响因子：
2.3
作者：
Biruk, Crystal
通讯作者：
Biruk, Crystal
影响因子：
4.1
作者：
Pryor, Erica R.;Habermann, Barbara;Broome, Marion E.
通讯作者：
Broome, Marion E.
影响因子：
2.7
作者：
Okonta, Patrick I.;Rossouw, Theresa
通讯作者：
Rossouw, Theresa