Dissertation Information for Mary D. Scheetz NAME: - Mary D. Scheetz
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- University of Pittsburgh (USA) (1996)
ADVISORS: - Ellen Detlefsen
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - Edie Rasmussen - Toni Carbo - Stephen Almagno - Christine Nilcarek
MPACT Status: Fully Complete
Title: The treatment of scientific misconduct in the biomedical literature: A content analysis, 1966-1994
Abstract: Because the advancement of science is based on trust in research, it is imperative that scientific publications reflect a high level of confidence. Now more than ever before, investigators compete for funding and strive to publish results of their research. As biomedical investigators throughout the world pursue their research, the literature has become the all important medium for exchange of information. Perhaps as a result of the growing sense of urgency to publish, there have been well-documented cases in which scientific reports have been found to be inaccurate or misleading. Sometimes the inaccuracies are the result of oversight or simple sloppiness, while at other times, inaccurate reports are the result of willful actions, now termed scientific misconduct.
This study analyzed whether there was any change in the reporting of the topic of scientific misconduct in the biomedical literature as reported in MEDLINE from 1966-1994. The criteria used to evaluate the treatment of scientific misconduct in the published literature included citation frequency, content areas, and publication formats. Content areas were measured to identify the treatment of a particular subject matter over time, and publication formats were analyzed to assess the representation of information over time.
Quantitative and qualitative analysis revealed an increase in attention to and discussion of the topic of scientific misconduct in the biomedical literature. Evidence suggests that high visibility misconduct cases, coupled with congressional hearings on scientific misconduct beginning in the 1980's contributed to the increased focus on the issues related to scientific misconduct. Further descriptive analysis showed that over the twenty-nine year period, authors as well as editors of biomedical journals rapidly became interested in the events related to scientific misconduct and published on the topic more openly.
Although publishing less than accurate information in biomedical journals has been recognized as a problem with far reaching ramifications, there is not yet in place a highly effective system for reducing the adverse effect upon the scientific community of inaccurate published reports that have become part of the collection body of knowledge on a subject.
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MPACT Scores for Mary D. Scheetz A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:24:12
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