Research Misconduct, as defined by the federal government, is a knowing or intentional act of:

• Falsification: recording or reporting of made-up data or records;
• Fabrication: manipulating data, equipment, research processes so that the research is misrepresented in the research record or report. Fabrication includes changing or omitting data; OR
• Plagiarism: appropriation, stealing, or publication of another person's ideas, work, or results without giving credit

EMU also includes the following in its definition of Research Misconduct:

• Failure to assign authorship appropriately on any manuscript report, project, publication, or electronic communication;
• Deliberate violation of a University policy or standard practice in research, including but not limited to the policies on the use of human subjects and the use and care of animals;
• Abuse of confidentiality in peer, editorial, or regulatory review, or use or disclosure of privileged information, such as misappropriating ideas from others' grant proposals, award applications, or manuscripts, or inappropriately using other privileged communications; and
• Retaliation of any kind against a person who, acting in good faith, reports or provides information about suspected or alleged misconduct.

In order to qualify as research misconduct, the actions must be inconsistent with accepted professional or academic practices. Allegations of research misconduct must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence (i.e., the evidence has to show that the allegation is more likely true than not).  Please see the EMU Policy on Research Misconduct below for more information.