Velicu Antonia, Winter Fabian, Rathmann Justus, Rauhut Heiko
Department of Sociology, University of Zurich, Andreasstrasse 15, Zurich, 8050 Zurich Switzerland.
Scientometrics. 2025;130(7):3367-3382. doi: 10.1007/s11192-025-05357-4. Epub 2025 Jul 5.
Scientific misconduct and questionable research practices (QRPs) pose significant challenges to the integrity of academic research. This study therefore investigates scientists' implicit associations regarding misconduct and its relationship with perceived academic success. Employing the Single-Category Implicit Association Test (SC-IAT), the attitudes of 11,747 scientists across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland were examined. Results suggest that only a very low fraction of researchers associate serious misconduct with success, yet approximately one-fifth of participants associate QRPs with success. Gender and discipline-based distinctions were minimal, with notable inclinations among PhD students decreasing with status. However, limitations exist, including the lack of validation against explicit attitudes. The decline in the association between QRPs and success with status raises questions about cohort effects or shifting ethical norms. Early intervention and ongoing training efforts may mitigate these issues, emphasizing ethical considerations in scientific practice from undergraduate education onwards. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for fostering integrity in research and guiding future interventions.
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11192-025-05357-4.
科研不端行为和有问题的研究行为（QRPs）对学术研究的诚信构成了重大挑战。因此，本研究调查了科学家对不端行为的隐性关联及其与感知到的学术成就的关系。采用单类别内隐联想测验（SC-IAT），对奥地利、德国和瑞士的11747名科学家的态度进行了考察。结果表明，只有极少数研究人员将严重的不端行为与成功联系起来，但约五分之一的参与者将有问题的研究行为与成功联系起来。基于性别和学科的差异很小，博士生中明显的倾向随着地位的提高而减少。然而，研究存在局限性，包括缺乏与明确态度的验证。有问题的研究行为与成功之间的关联随着地位的提高而下降，这引发了关于群体效应或道德规范变化的问题。早期干预和持续的培训努力可能会缓解这些问题，从本科教育开始就在科学实践中强调道德考量。理解这些动态对于促进研究诚信和指导未来干预至关重要。
在线版本包含可在10.1007/s11192-025-05357-4获取的补充材料。
