Junior researchers less likely to blow the whistle on research misconduct

Early-career researchers are less likely to report research misconduct when they come across such activity than senior faculty, a survey of more than 1100 researchers at eight European universities has found.

The study found that researchers aged between 21 and 29, who are most likely to be in doctoral or postdoctoral positions, said they reported a third of all the research misconduct they witnessed. Academics over 40 said they reported more than half the cases they encountered, with academics aged between 50 and 59 reporting the highest share of cases at 65%. Full professors said they reported two-thirds of the cases they witnessed and associate professors 37%.