Research Misconduct (Misconduct in Science/Research)

Research misconduct means intentional, knowing, or reckless fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research or in reporting research results. A finding of research misconduct requires that there be a significant departure from accepted practices of the relevant research community, and does not include honest error or honest differences in interpretations of data or judgments.

If you know about an instance of research misconduct, if you suspect that research misconduct might have occurred, or if you just have questions about what constitutes misconduct, please contact UGA’s Institutional Integrity Officer. Interactions with the Integrity Officer can begin in several ways: you can mail or e-mail your allegations or concerns, or you can discuss them with the Integrity Officer over the phone or arrange a face-to-face discussion.

Important Points to Remember:

• UGA employees have a duty to report any suspected research misconduct (or concerns about possible misconduct).
• UGA has a duty to investigate any allegation brought forth.
• UGA has a duty to protect, to the extent allowed by law, both the person bringing concerns forward and the person who is accused.

• Policy on Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship