NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS
CLOSEOUT MEMORANDUM
Case Number: Al5030014 Page 1of1
NSF OIG received allegations regarding two NSF-funded 1 publications. Specifically, it
was alleged that the authors of the first paper2 compared one data set3 with its own experimental
data, but intentionally failed to include a third data set4 that disagreed with their own dataset.
Regarding the second paper, 5 it was alleged that the authors reported misleading data because the
data was inconsistent with other data sets, the procedure the authors used to correct the data was
random, and the data was derivative of an inferior and then unpublished dataset.
Our review of the allegation related to the first paper found that the authors openly state
in the paper that there is a discrepancy between their data and the comparison data set, propose
reasons for the differences, and describe the standards they use. We concluded that the
allegations involved a scientific dispute rather than research misconduct.
Our review of the allegations related to the second paper found both that the authors describe
the procedure used for correcting the data in the paper, and that, as a peer-reviewed paper accepted
for publication, the peer reviewers clearly considered thr procedure valid. We again concluded that
the allegations involved a scientific dispute rather than research misconduct.
Accordingly, this case is closed with no further action taken.
NSF OIG Form 2 (11/02)
Data Tampering / Sabotage / Fabrication
Published by the National Science Foundation, Office of Inspector General on 2017-04-13.
Below is a raw (and likely hideous) rendition of the original report. (PDF)