Scientists may “fudge” scientific data just to prove their theory or hypothesis. Scientists may even steal ideas to advance their careers. There is ample opportunity to “makeup” data to support the scientists’ theories and experiment results. Too often scientific fraud just gets shrugged off by the media and science watchdogs.
However, the roots of fraud may lie in the so-called scientific experiments and studies themselves. Educated guessing, or what scientists call fact-finding, is inherent in the nature of what they do. The ever-faithful public feels that anything “scientific” MUST have fail-safe mechanisms of inquiry and corrections. Not true! Tidying up numbers and stretching or “fudging” a few statistics may end up as standard operating procedure for too many scientists who, remember, get paid by research institutes, universities and corporate capitalists to get results.
For fame and fortune some scientists may betray their devotion to the discovery of truth and, consequently, may abandon their professional ideals. As in any workplace, the temptation to cheat, corrupt and lie may be too great. Too often scientific laws, rules and principles may give way to the egocentric science of the “here and now”!