Doctoral Dissertation Research: Rational Choice and Moral Intent in the Responsible Conduct of Research

该奖项是针对科学研究人员学术不端行为的博士论文研究。几十年来，学生的学术不端行为一直是大量文献的焦点，不像教师的学术不端行为，它受到的实证关注要少得多。一些研究考察了组织对不当行为的影响，包括研究生院的教育和指导。本研究将有助于文献实证研究的理性和道德判断对教师的科研不端行为可能产生的影响，重点是社会科学。智力优点拟议的研究的目的是探讨人类行为的一个特定的理论，理性选择理论，在研究中的不端行为的现象的应用。这将在道德决策框架内进行。在一个有影响力的道德决策模型中，涉及四个因素：道德意识/敏感性，道德判断/推理，道德意图（道德与其他相关问题的平衡，以形成以某种方式行事的意图）和道德行为。这些因素之间的关系和理性选择措施的感知可能性检测和制裁将探讨使用场景的共同研究的情况下，涉及明确或模糊的不当行为。参与者将评估他们自己采取场景中描述的行动的可能性，同时也评估情况的道德和理性选择特征。将使用统计方法来预测根据这些道德和理性选择评估以及其他解释性因素（如过去接触不当行为和感知的程序正义）从事不当行为的意图。潜在的更广泛的影响这项研究对学术培训，科学和奖学金的做法，以及公共政策有重大影响。特别是，它可能会影响公共和私营学术机构对研究不端行为的看法和处理方式。在某种程度上，道德和/或理性的选择因素在起作用，新的政策可能会制定在机构中，除了推进更多的关注道德敏感性和意图，解决教师的奖励制度。在学术场所广泛传播的结果可能会刺激这些重要问题的进一步讨论，以及在这一领域的额外的实证工作，从而最终有助于减少问题。

IntroductionThis award is for a doctoral dissertation research into academic misconduct of science researchers. Academic misconduct among students has been the focus of a tremendous amount of literature for a number of decades, unlike academic misconduct among faculty, which has received much less empirical attention. A few studies have examined organizational effects on misconduct, including education and mentoring in graduate school. This research will contribute to the literature by empirically examining the possible effects of rational and moral judgments on faculty research misconduct, with a focus on the social sciences. Intellectual MeritThe purpose of the proposed study is to explore the application of a particular theory of human behavior, Rational Choice Theory, to the phenomenon of misconduct in research. This will be done in the context of a moral decision-making framework. In one influential model for moral decision-making, four factors are involved: Moral awareness/sensitivity, moral judgment/reasoning, moral intent (the balancing of moral with other pertinent issues to form an intent to act in one fashion or another), and moral behavior. The relationship between these factors and rational choice measures of the perceived likelihood of detection and sanctions will be explored using scenarios of common research situations involving clear or ambiguous misconduct. Participants will rate the likelihood they themselves would take the action described in the scenario while also rating the moral and rational choice features of the situation. Statistical methods will be used to predict the intent to engage in misconduct in light of these moral and rational choice assessments, and other explanatory factors such as past exposure to misconduct and perceived procedural justice. Potential Broader ImpactsThis research has significant implications for academic training, scientific and scholarship practices, and public policy. In particular, it may influence the way that research misconduct is perceived and addressed in public and private academic institutions. To the extent that moral and/or rational choice factors are at work, new policies may be developed in institutions that address the system of rewards for faculty in addition to advancing greater attention to moral sensitivity and intent. Broad dissemination of the results in scholarly venues likely will stimulate further discussion of these important issues as well as additional empirical work in this area, and thereby eventually contribute to a reduction in the problem.