This paper aims to clarify the meaning of ``research misconduct`` and examine what norms are needed to safeguard against research misconduct. Fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism are counted as typical research misconducts, but they are not comm...
This paper aims to clarify the meaning of ``research misconduct`` and examine what norms are needed to safeguard against research misconduct. Fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism are counted as typical research misconducts, but they are not common, nor are they ethically controversial or specific to research. So we argue that we must focus on misconduct by mistake or negligence. After examining Millikan`s famous oil drop experiment, we assert that it is not easy to judge whether or not misconduct is ethical based on the researcher`s intention. We conclude that research norms should be introduced and taught to scientists so that research misconduct by mistake or negligence is to be blamed, whatever intentions the researchers might have.