Fabrication in a study about honesty: A lost episode of columbo illustrating how forensic statistics is performed

Account Res. 2024 Mar 17:1-17. doi: 10.1080/08989621.2024.2329265. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe three steps of a typical forensic statistical analysis are (1) verify that the raw data file is correct; (2) verify that the statistical analysis file derived from the raw data file is correct; and (3) verify that the statistical analyses are appropriate. We illustrate applying these three steps to a manuscript which was subsequently retracted, focusing on step 1. In the absence of an external source for comparison, criteria for assessing the raw data file were internal consistency and plausibility. A forensic statistical analysis isn't like a murder mystery, and it many circumstances discovery of a mechanism for falsification or fabrication might not be realistic.PMID:38493503 | DOI:10.1080/08989621.2024.2329265
Source: Accountability in Research - Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Source Type: research