An Expert on Dishonesty
You may be aware of the case of Francesca Gino, a Harvard Business School professor facing allegations of data fraud. Essentially accused of dishonesty in her studies on dishonesty. Her case draws parallels with the 2012 Diederik Stapel scandal, where a social psychologist was found guilty of fabricating data in numerous publications. The investigating committee in Stapel’s case emphasized the need to correct the scientific record and protect innocent scientists, particularly early in their careers.
The Many Co-Authors project, initiated by some of Gino’s coauthors, aims to review Gino-led studies to address concerns about potential fraud. The project aligns with the Stapel committee’s goals, focusing on correcting the scientific record and safeguarding early career scientists. Of importance, is the potential to provide clarity on fraud allegations, tenure revocation, paper retractions, defamation lawsuits, and crowdfunding for legal defense.
The background of the Gino case involves three scientists who alerted Harvard to alleged fraud in Gino-led studies in 2021. The subsequent public disclosure on the Data Colada blog detailed alleged data fraud in four studies led by Gino, prompting Harvard to place her on administrative leave without pay. Gino denied the allegations, filed a $25 million lawsuit against Harvard and the Data Colada scientists, and announced plans to sue for defamation.
There has been an ongoing legal battle and concerns within the scientific community about the potential chilling effects of reporting research misconduct. This led to a GoFundMe campaign created to support the legal defense of the Data Colada scientists, reflecting worries about the impact on scientific criticism and accountability.
Despite Harvard’s commitment to correcting the scientific record, the lack of full disclosure raises questions about the community’s ability to resolve issues surrounding Gino’s coauthored work. The Many Co-Authors project emerges as a potential model for addressing fraud allegations, offering a centralized database where coauthors can disclose information related to data collection, replication, and the need for retractions. The initiative aims to protect early career scientists and bring transparency to the situation, contrasting with the legal complexities and institutional responses surrounding the case.
The original four-part blog series describing the details of the alleged fraud, and a video by Pete Judo, are provided below.