Why do scientists cheat? Insights from behavioral economics

Bibliographic Data

ID9256080
AuthorsSarah Necker (Walter Eucken Institut, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume74
Issue1
Pages98-108
Publication date2016-01-02
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueReview of Social Economy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0034-6764 • E-ISSN: 1470-1162
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00346764.2016.1135604
OpenAlexW2315275024
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited36

Based on a review of the books by Wible (2014), Stephan (2012), and Lanteri and Vromen (2014), I discuss three different ways in which behavioral economics can enrich the understanding of scientific misbehavior. First, behavioral economics suggests that economic theories of scientific misbehavior, such as the one by Wible (2014), should consider moral costs of cheating, i.e. costs that arise from an individual’s desire to do the “right thing.” Second, behavioral economics demonstrates several ways in which the features of the reward scheme in science,as described by Stephan (2012), can favor cheating. Her conclusion that shirking is rarely an issue in science seems optimistic. Third, behavioral economics indicates that individual characteristics matter for cheating. According to Lanteri and Vromen (2014), economists possess different characteristics than other researchers. Hence, the reaction to incentives may differ across disciplines. Considering these insights is important to assess how a goal such as the pursuit of truth can be achieved efficiently

Behavioral economics · Behavioural economics · Behavioural sciences · Cheating · Economics · Experimental economics · Incentive · Microeconomics · Neuroeconomics · Positive economics · Social science · Sociology · Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics · Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Social Psychology

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