Research Ethics (Plagiarism and Authorship)

Let us say you do not copy someone’s original work word for word – instead you paraphrase it. Is it acceptable to use someone else’s concept, idea, or description of an idea – but in your own words?

• Yes

• No

State whether the following statement is true or false.

Research components, such as graphic representations and diagrams CANNOT be plagiarized.

• True

• False

You are preparing a paper that involves a complex but you are having difficulty putting into words precisely how this concepts works. You see an excellent explanation in another published paper. Is it okay to use this explanation word for word in your paper without referring to the other paper?

• Yes

• No

In the example below, has the researcher violated any ethical boundaries?

A researcher notices a paragraph in a previously article that would be suitable as the Materials and Methods in his article. The researcher decides to copy that paragraph into his paper without quotes or attribution.

• Yes

• No

How can you use ideas, phrases, and arguments from sources already published?

• By writing the initials of the original authors

• By simply putting the used content within inverted commas

• By providing a bibliography at the end of the article

• By simply acknowledging the source and the original author

You plagiarized someone’s work and you are caught, what is the likely consequence? Select ALL that apply.

• The article is retracted with public documentation explaining the reasons.

• The institute funding your research takes disciplinary action

• Your judgement and reputation come into question

State whether the following statement is true or false.

Ghost author is a person who conducts or supervise the data collection, analysis, presentation, and interpretation of the results

• True

• False

A team of four students worked together on a research paper, and while each person made contributions to the study, some had greater involvement and responsibility for the manuscript than others. Two team members did everything from developing the study concept and design, data acquisition and interpretation, to writing and finalizing the draft for publication,. The other two helped with the research, such as assisting with the lab experiments, but had no input into the manuscript. Do all authors fit the definition of authorship, regardless of the journal?

• Yes

• No

Which of the following ethical misconduct occurs when the data collected is manipulated to fit certain trends?

• Ghost Authorship

• Plagiarism

• Fabrication

• Falsification