# Good Scientific Practice

*This chapter is based on the notes [2022-06-28_ConflictOfInterest_Plagiarism.pdf](../../course_notes/2022-06-28_ConflictOfInterest_Plagiarism.pdf)*

## Conflict of Interest

Conflicts of interest through:

* Friendship
* Antagonism/hostile relationship
* Dependence
* Collaboration

![](8-Conflict_of_Interest/circles.png)

Examples for conflicts of interest:

* Reviewing:
	1. Professional assessment
	2. Helping a friend
* Student representatives:
	1. Representing the students' interests
	2. Own interests at University (grades, career, etc.)
* Women's representative
* Lobbies
* Politicians in board of directors:
	1. Party
	2. Company
* Additional occupation or spare-time work:
	1. First employer
	2. Second employer/own company

Differentation in *primary interests* and *secondary interests*.


Example cases where conflicts of interest are important:

* Research in company
* BSc thesis in company
* Peer-reviewing papers
* Hiring decisions
* Exam attestation

Solutions:

* Form a committee, do not decide alone
* Categorization of 'conflict of interests' by others, not yourself
* Prevention of ill influence through anonymous reviews
* Transparency (communicate potential conflicts)

Decisions should be correct, transparent and invulnerable.

Sources:

* [DFG about conflicts of interest (German)](https://www.dfg.de/formulare/10_201/10_201_de.pdf)
* [ACM guidelines about conflicts of interest (English)](https://www.acm.org/publications/policies/conflict-of-interest)
* [IEEE Publication Services and Products Board Operations Manual](https://pspb.ieee.org/images/files/files/opsmanual.pdf)


Example conflicts of interests strictly defined by DFG (German Scientific Organisation):

- Spouse or close relative
- Economic relationship
- Scientific cooperation: Current or planned
- Supervisor-supervisee relationship: Current or within the last six years
- Work at relevant institution: Current or planned


## Plagiarism

Definition: Theft of intellectual property.

- Using others' work
- Completely **or** modified
- Pretending to be the creator

Plagiarism in law:

- Copyright
- Compensation possible
- Cease-and-desist letter

- Sources must always be attributed, also for self-plagiarism!
- Violation of good scientific practice

### Plagiarism in Academia


Examples for plagiarism:

* Tutor attests exam or thesis, recognizes plagiarism:  Copy from webpage without citation (academic misconduct)
* Text from book translated word-to-word

Examples for no plagiarism:

* Group work

Characterization:

* Basic principle: Independent work.
* "Reuse without Reference": Academic misconduct originates from the use of work that is not cited. 
* Plagarism vs. Self-Plagiarism
* Rules and consequences must be defined and followed

IEEE rules ([IEEE Ops manual, Section 8.2.4](https://pspb.ieee.org/images/files/files/opsmanual.pdf)):

1. Level 1: Uncredited verbatim copy of more than 50% within single article
	* Notice of Violation published
	* Publication of work prohibited
	* Rejection of all of the authors' articles currently under review (resubmission possible after plagiarism issue resolved)
	* Up to 5 years of prohibition of publication in all IEEE-copyrighted publications by the authors
	* Recommendation: Require Letter of Apology and publish it (if no letter written: 1-2 years additional prohibition of publication)
2. Level 2: 20%-50%
	* Same as above, but only ...
	* Up to 3 years of prohibition of publication
3. Level 3: <= 20 %
	* Letter of Apology to plagiarized authors and publication editors (private)
	* Notice of Violation published
	* Possible action: Publication of Letter of Apology
4. Level 4: "Inappropriate paraphrasing" of significant portion
	* Same as above, but only ...
	* Prohibition of publication in single venue if no Letter of Apology written.
5. Level 5: Verbatim copy without quotation mark
	* Correction required
	* Letter of Apology to plagiarized authors and publication editors (private)

Repeated violations: Up to a liftetime of prohibition of publication.

Process for misconduct handling by IEEE (Figure 8.2.4. in [IEEE Ops manual](https://pspb.ieee.org/images/files/files/opsmanual.pdf)):

![](8-Conflict_of_Interest/IEEE_Figure8.2.4.png)