Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026
07:48
Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research
Published on: November 26, 2015
Researching retraction: Do we need more rules or more honesty?
1Department of Education, University of Oxford.
Accountability in Research
|June 13, 2026
Summary
Social science meta-research requires critical accountability, not just biomedical standards. We advocate for rigor aligned with research questions, highlighting gaps in current retraction research.
Area of Science:
- Meta-research
- Social Sciences
- Research Integrity
Background:
- Debate on applying biomedical research standards to social science meta-research.
- Concerns about policing methodological expertise.
Purpose of the Study:
- Advocate for critical accountability research in social sciences.
- Promote methodological rigor aligned with research questions and design.
- Highlight limitations in the current body of research on retractions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic topographical review of research on retractions.
- Analysis of existing quantitative and qualitative studies.
- Identification of research gaps concerning journal and publisher behavior in retractions.
Main Results:
- Existing retraction research is predominantly quantitative.
- Few studies utilize interview-based methods.
- Insufficient exploration of the socio-political and economic factors influencing retraction delays.
Conclusions:
- Current meta-research standards may not be universally applicable across disciplines.
- Critical accountability research is needed to enhance methodological rigor in social sciences.
- Further investigation into the politics, economics, and sociology of research integrity is essential.
Related Concept Videos
01:56Ethics in Research
Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, this has not always been the case. Modern researchers must demonstrate that the research they perform is ethically sound.
01:14Understanding Deception
Deception is a pervasive aspect of human communication. Empirical studies have shown that most individuals engage in some form of deceit on a daily basis, with approximately 20% of social exchanges involving deceptive elements. Lying follows a developmental trajectory, peaking during adolescence and declining with age, possibly due to the maturation of cognitive control and social accountability.Cognitive and Social Factors in Deception DetectionDespite its prevalence, accurately detecting...
01:22Ethics and Bioethics
Ethics is a philosophical study of moral actions. Ethics attempts to determine what is valuable for individuals and society. It examines the rational justification of moral judgments and analyzes what is morally just, fair, and right. Bioethics is a sub-discipline of applied ethics that analyzes the philosophical, social, and legal issues in life sciences and medicine. Ethical theories serve as a foundation for decision-making and represent the viewpoints from which people seek direction. They...
01:29Impression Management Techniques III: Aligning Actions
Aligning actions are communicative strategies individuals employ to maintain social harmony and preserve personal identity in the face of potential disruptions to social norms. These actions are particularly important in managing social impressions when one's behavior might be seen as inappropriate, incompetent, or morally questionable.Types of Aligning ActionsThe three principal types of aligning actions are disclaimers, accounts, and apologies.DisclaimersDisclaimers are preventive; they are...
01:08Obedience
According to obedience research, we may harm others under the forceful pressures of an authority figure (Milgram, 1974). How about if the inappropriate orders were delivered with less force? The increasing interdependence between nurses and physicians compelled Hofling and his colleagues to explore nurses’ reactions to a potentially harmful medical request made by the perceived authority figure, the doctor (Hofling, Brotzman, Dalrymple, Graves, & Pierce, 1966). In this situation, obedience...
02:30Naturalistic Observations
If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...