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When science goes bad - A look at Scientific misconduct (how to avoid it)

Career Development Communication Skills Research Skills

Monday, 18 February 2019, 1pm to 5pm

Apply for this course

This course is scheduled one in each term.

Course Aim

What kind of scientist are you?
Are you dodgy and deceptive, with a sense of entitlement and runaway ambition leading you to fudge data, hack p-values and regard publication by any means as more valuable than the scientific truths of the universe!?
Or, would you describe yourself as an honest, open and accountable researcher with high standards and a disinterested approach, entirely motivated by your small contribution to collective knowledge?

Whoever you are, you are welcome to this workshop which uses short presentations and interactive sessions to examine examples of bad research design, shoddy results and scientific misconduct giving you the opportunity to consider day to day scientific methods through a critical lens. By the end participants will be equipped with the means to identify quality science and conduct their own research with integrity.

Course content

1. Tragedies! - The slippery slope to scientific misconduct
2. Interactive session: Where did it all go wrong? Misconduct case studies.
3. Bad behaviour in clinical and laboratory science.
4. Interactive session: Can you spot shoddy science?
5. Why your PI hates you, and vice versa


Course Format

This course will take place as a workshop with presentations interspersed with interactive sessions.

Course length

Total course length is 3 hours (3 sections of 30 min lecture plus 2 interactive sessions of 30 mins).

Participant numbers

24 

Booking Instructions

Step-by-step guidelines on how to book a Skills Training course.

How to book

Terms & Conditions

These terms and conditions apply to all MSD Skills training courses attendees.

Read the Terms & Conditions

Events from across the University

Research Practice e-learning courses are available to all research staff and students at the University. You can self-enrol at Research Practice Training.

Getting started: beginning your DPhil life in Oxford as you mean to go on – finding a work life balance and looking after your emotions, Getting on: managing professional relationships (supervisors, lab, peers), preparing emotionally for transfer of status, and dealing with DPhil crises along the way, Getting finished – preparing emotionally for submission, your viva, and life after the DPhil. To book visit Workshops and Groups | University Counselling Service

Department of Continuing Education offers Graduate School training programme is for Oxford University postgraduate students. For more details see here.