As I’ve transitioned to more exploratory and researchy roles in my career, I have started to understand the science fraudsters like Jan Hendrik Schön.
When you spent an entire week working on a test or experiment that you know should work, at least if you give it enough time, but it isn’t for whatever reason, it can be extremely tempting to invent the numbers that you think it should be, especially if your employer is pressuring you for a result. Now, obviously, reason we run these tests is precisely because we don’t actually know what the results will be, but that’s sometimes more obvious in hindsight.
Obviously it’s wrong, and I haven’t done it, but I would be lying if I said that the thought hadn’t crossed my mind.
When you spent an entire week working on a test or experiment that you know should work, at least if you give it enough time, but it isn’t for whatever reason, it can be extremely tempting to invent the numbers that you think it should be, especially if your employer is pressuring you for a result. Now, obviously, reason we run these tests is precisely because we don’t actually know what the results will be, but that’s sometimes more obvious in hindsight.
Obviously it’s wrong, and I haven’t done it, but I would be lying if I said that the thought hadn’t crossed my mind.