Harassment as Scientific Misconduct

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Document Type

Contribution to a Book

Publication Title

Integrity of Scientific Research: Fraud, Misconduct and Fake News in the Academic, Medical and Social Environment

DOI

10.1007/978-3-030-99680-2_17

First Page

163

Last Page

176

Abstract

Sexual and other types of identity-based harassment, discrimination, and exclusionary behaviors have been identified as barriers to diversifying science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) fields. By creating hostile environments, disrupting career progression, and sowing distrust, these behaviors affect the integrity of scientific and medical practice. Improving workplace climate requires effective policies and codes of conduct as well as cultural change, and one way to do that is treat harassment and other hostile behaviors with at least the same level of concern as data fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism. Moving away from a purely legal framework to an ethical framework would also be effective toward addressing bullying and other abusive behaviors that have harmful impacts yet are not considered unlawful. We present arguments for expanding current definitions of responsible conduct of research and highlight several case studies of program interventions from professional associations, academic institutions, and funding agencies.

Keywords

Bullying, Discrimination, Hostile workplace climate, Research ethics, Scientific misconduct, Sexual harassment, STEMM

Department

Philosophy

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