Fortunately, I have not encountered any serious research misconduct among my colleagues while conducting my baccalaureate research project. However, I have reflected on how easily researchers might intentionally or unintentionally report misleading data, particularly when biases are not adequately minimized. It is alarming to consider that significant movements, such as the “anti-vax” campaign, arose due to research misinformation and continue to affect an increasing number of people.
If I were to discover research misconduct among my peers, the appropriate course of action would be to report it promptly to the relevant research authorities, especially if internal corrections cannot be achieved through the intervention of the supervising mentor. As agents of scientific knowledge, our primary responsibility is to report findings objectively and to accept the results we obtain—whether or not they align with our initial hypotheses. After all, some of the most valuable discoveries arise from uncertainty rather than expected outcomes.