What constitutes research misconduct?

Research misconduct is specifically defined by the three main categories of fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism.

Fabrication involves making up data or results and presenting them as if they were obtained through proper research methods. This undermines the integrity of the scientific process and misleads other researchers, stakeholders, and the public.

Falsification refers to manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or altering or omitting data to misrepresent research findings. This can lead to incorrect conclusions and can have a significant negative impact on the field as a whole.

Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else's work, ideas, or intellectual property as one's own without proper attribution. This is a serious ethical breach in academia and research, as it discredits the original work and violates trust within the academic community.

Together, these three elements define substantial breaches of ethical conduct in research activities, establishing a clear framework for what constitutes misconduct within the realm of research. Other options provided do not encapsulate the breadth of research misconduct as established by research integrity guidelines.