Business Ethics: Case Study, Solutions, and Analysis

This report presents a case study in business ethics, focusing on a scenario involving potential academic fraud. The analysis centers on a researcher who has concerns about fabricated data. The report suggests that the researcher should not allow the publication of the research until real data is found, and to be honest with the advisor. It also suggests reporting the issue to the appropriate authorities. The report examines the ethical implications of the situation and provides recommendations for the researcher's actions, considering both the immediate consequences and the long-term impact on her career and the integrity of the research. The report highlights the importance of ethical behavior in academic research and the potential repercussions of unethical actions. The report references the work of Simonsohn (2013) and Hill (1996) to support its analysis and recommendations.

Running head: Business Ethics 1
Business Ethics
Student Name
Institution Affiliation
Date

Running head: Business Ethics 2
Business Ethics
1. What should she do?
I would like to suggest that she should not allow that research to be published in its
current state until when real data is found to undo the analysis. She should face her advisor
fessed up as a means to stop the publication of the fake data because honestly is the only way
forward as far as this case is concerned, since she hopes that it will be a Ph.D. dissertation. Of
course her advisor will be pretty angry at first but since she hopes it will be her Ph.D. dissertation
research he might sympathize. It will be very uncomfortable at first, but in the end things will
probably work out. The alternatives to be found out at some point for a dishonest publication. It
is illegal or rather risky for anyone to weasel his /her way out of academic fraud
(simonsohn,2013). The best way out is to practice the ethical thing.
She can also consider to change her username and profile picture to avoid considerable
splash damage when he goes down. Anonymity is your friend here due to the issue at hand or
else back off. Also his bad reputation is going to stain your career and it will be at risk.
Since she has controvertible evidence of his fabricated data, it is more than enough to
ascertain his academic dishonesty. If she can afford to report, then she should do it because he is
robbing legitimate researchers of their funding and he will make people lose their money and
time.
2. With whom should she discuss the issue, if any?

Running head: Business Ethics 3
I suggest that she should contact restactionwatch.com, they run a well-known blog that
deals with academic and scientific fraud.
3. Is there a designated person in your institution to deal with such issues?
Yes. Their core value is to ensure integrity and honesty in the institutional publications.
References
Simonsohn, U. (2013). Just post it: The lesson from two cases of fabricated data detected by
statistics alone. Psychological science, 24(10), 1875-1888.
Hill, T. P. (1996). A note on distributions of true versus fabricated data. Perceptual and Motor
Skills, 83(3), 776-778.