More Business School Researchers Accused of Fabricated Findings

A Harvard Business School professor, Francesca Gino, was accused of fabricating findings in several studies, leading to her being placed on administrative leave. Juliana Schroeder, a business school professor from the University of California at Berkeley and co-author of some of Gino's studies, launched an audit of Gino's work, called "The Many Coauthors Project." Schroeder's audit uncovered another paper that appeared to be affected by data tampering, which she had helped write with Alison Wood Brooks, a colleague of Gino's at Harvard Business School. Schroeder reported her findings to Harvard Business School, but they declined to investigate, citing a policy of not responding to allegations made more than six years after the misconduct. Schroeder also found an issue with another paper she had produced with Gino, but claimed the error was not her fault and may have been caused by her research assistants. The scandal highlights the problem of systemic dishonesty-rewarding incentives in academia, where flashy findings are prioritized over accuracy. Dennis Tourish, a professor at the University of Sussex Business School, noted that journal editors and institutions often prioritize their own prestige and reputation over finding the truth. Schroeder expressed skepticism about the ability of her field to self-correct, despite her optimism that it will eventually improve. The scandal has raised questions about the consequences of suspected fraud in academia, with many cases going unpunished. The lack of accountability and incentives for honesty in academia can lead to a culture of dishonesty and undermine the integrity of research.