The Office of Inspector General at the U.S. National Science Foundation is studying the
feasibility of statistical surveys to measure the frequency with which misconduct in science
occurs. Such information would be useful in shaping federal government policy. Existing data
are known to be inadequate for this purpose. A basic choice must be made between a survey in
which respondents would report on their own misconduct and one in which they would report
on misconduct they have observed. The methodological difficulties involved in both kinds of
survey are discussed Suggestions are sought from the scientific community.
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