What is an example of researcher misconduct?

Researcher misconduct refers to unethical behavior that can compromise the integrity of research findings. The act of ignoring data outliers and changing final results directly illustrates this misconduct, as it involves manipulating data to produce desired outcomes rather than reporting findings as they are. This behavior misleads others who may rely on the research for further studies, policy-making, or clinical application.

In contrast, conducting surveys is a standard research methodology and does not imply any unethical behavior. Changing methods after data collection, while it might reflect poor planning or methodological issues, is not inherently misconduct unless it distorts the integrity of the research. Using control groups is a fundamental aspect of experimental design that aims to enhance the validity of research findings and is not related to misconduct. Hence, the choice of ignoring data outliers and altering results is a clear example of misconduct due to its detrimental impact on scientific integrity and trust.