OBaS – Scientific misconduct

This episode centers on several aspects of scientific misconduct. However, what is scientific misconduct?

First of all, there is the so-called FFP, standing for Fabrication, Falsification and Plagiarism. These are considered to be the worst forms of misconduct.

Secondly, there are the questionable research practices (QRPs). These constitute behavior that is not per se immediately condemned but, as the name suggests, questionable.

So on an axis of severity one has correct behavior (good behavior) on the one end. On the other end there is FFP (wrong behavior). In between there are the QRPs (Steneck, 2006).

In this episode the issue of plagiarism is discussed. What do you think? Did Rebecca commit plagiarism in this case? Why is plagiarism a bad thing with respect to the four principles?