ERIC Number: EJ1118583
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Oct-3
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1938-5978
EISSN: N/A
Academic Crosswinds: When Professional Ethics and Professional Incentives Clash
O'Neil, Jane
New England Journal of Higher Education, Oct 2016
This article provides a useful and perhaps not uncommon anecdote for researchers thinking about sharing professional expectations, scarce resources, "public good" aspects of academic inquiry, and professional responsibility. It appears as follows: Two sets of researchers, using a respected national longitudinal data set, have been working on related but distinct topics, employing mainly descriptive approaches in their research. In the interests of informing their own work, one group asked the other to share its paper. Reading it, they see that some findings look unrealistic at best, if not inaccurate. While continuing to work on their own paper, they attempt some replication. The numbers are, in fact, almost certainly wrong. The paper is soon to be published at a journal regularly read by both groups and many of their peers. The second group finds itself in a quandary. Convinced that the findings of the first team are erroneous, what, if any, actions should they take? What is the appropriate professional response, if any? In the current academic climate, replication of research is a highly visible issue, and this article presents a spirited discussion of possible solutions.
Descriptors: Ethics, Incentives, Researchers, Research, Professionalism, Periodicals, Higher Education, Shared Resources and Services, Teamwork
New England Board of Higher Education. 45 Temple Place, Boston, MA 02111. Tel: 617-357-9620; Fax: 617-338-1577; e-mail: info@nebhe.org; Web site: http://www.nebhe.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A