They are fascinating questions: Why do people lie? And what behavior is actually considered immoral? Francesca Gino worked on it scientifically as a professor at the US elite university Harvard and was often booked by the media as an expert. Now she has been suspended – because she had falsified studies several times.
The scientist had earned an excellent reputation in dozens of studies in the field of behavioral sciences. But it has been crumbling noticeably in recent weeks. The allegations made by colleagues weigh heavily: Gino is said to have repeatedly backed up her research results with incorrect numbers.
According to the US radio station “NPR”, the first accusation came from within the company. A study on tax evasion found evidence of data manipulation, and the university investigated the case in detail. Just a day after an article appeared in the journal The Chronicle of Higher Education, a group made further allegations. Regardless of this, the data experts DataColada had found further suspected cases that figures in studies co-authored by Gino were deliberately falsified.
“We have worked out the four cases where we have the strongest evidence,” the experts explain. “We believe that many more studies she has written contain fake data. The evidence was passed on to the elite university as early as 2021.
Gino has since been suspended from service, and the university has not yet decided whether the ban will be temporary or permanent. So far, the scientist herself has only commented on the allegations on Linked.in. “I’m still evaluating the allegations,” she wrote. “I assure you that I take it seriously and will address it.” However, she neither admitted nor denied the allegations.
If her career as a scientist is over, the professor can look to her latest book for advice. It’s titled: “Case Study: How to Save Your Career When You’ve Failed Publicly”.
Quellen:NPR, The Chronicle of Higher Education, DataColada
