Accounts Offered For Unethical Research Practices: Effects On The Evaluations Of Acts And Actors
Abstract
The effect of accounts on observers' perceptions was assessed in a questionnaire mailed to a random sample of psychologists. Subjects read a fictitious description either of a researcher who had plagiarized a paper or of one who had fabricated data. The researcher's account of his action was quoted following the scenario; the accounts consisted of excuses, justifications, or denials. Subjects responded to questions calling for their evaluations of the researcher's character, the act itself, and the appropriate sanctions. Denials produced the most positive evaluations of the act and the researcher's character, whereas justifications produced the worst evaluations. These results demonstrate the problematic nature of attempting to justify one's behavior following serious offenses. © 1988 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Recommended Citation
Riordan, C. A., Marlin, N. A., & Gidwani, C. (1988). Accounts Offered For Unethical Research Practices: Effects On The Evaluations Of Acts And Actors. Journal of Social Psychology, 128(4), pp. 495-505. Taylor and Francis Group; Routledge.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.1988.9713769
Department(s)
Psychological Science
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1940-1183; 0022-4545
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2023 Taylor and Francis Group; Routledge, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Jan 1988
