4/1/13
Male scientists are more likely than female scientists to commit fraud, according to research published in the journal mBio. Misconduct is responsible for two-thirds of all retractions of scientific papers, while errors comprise the remaining retractions.
Overall, men commit 65% of the fraud cases, though this percentage varies among academic rank: 88% of faculty members who commit misconduct are male, as are 69% of post-doctoral fellows, 58% of students, and 43% of research personnel.
Although the study does not examine why men are more likely to commit fraud than women, theories include the fact that men tend to be risk-takers and more competitive, while females are more sensitive to the threat of sanctions.
Source: “Males Are Overrepresented Among Life Science Researchers Committing Scientific Misconduct,” mBio, Arturo Casadevall, Author, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Forchheimer Bldg., Rm. 411, Bronx, NY 10461; 718-430-2811; arturo.casadevall@einstein.yu.edu.
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