RESEARCH IN A HIERARCHY OF VALUES

Research fraud has unfortunately become increasingly troubling and public, undermining public confidence and support of research and threatening the foundation of research. The response of the scientific establishment has varied, but the public perception of the response is that it has been too little and too late. Science, like other institutions supported by public funds, must be accountable to the public and must accept public scrutiny without an overly defensive posture. Cooperation with such public review ultimately benefits science. The root problems underlying fraud in research are not unique to science, but reflect individual and societal moral weaknesses. Science and research, although essential and critical societal activities, do not represent the highest priorities of society, and must be subordinate to higher moral and ethical standards whose sources are external to science itself.