CONCLUSION: The current effort demonstrated the usefulness of the SMQ-R in obtaining information from a national sample of experienced research coordinators about their perceptions of the prevalence of different types of scientific misconduct and of factors that influence the occurrence of misconduct.
In discussing their results, three studies [27], [29], [31] considered them to be conservative, four [30], [32], [33], [34] suggested that they overestimated the actual occurrence of misconduct, and the remaining 13 made no clear statement.
The study points out that an occurrence of a sexual intercourse among unmarried adolescents is a secret action in attempt to avoid a portrayal of behavioural disobedience or misconduct to parents, relatives and the community at large and may be associated with the belief that condom promotion and distribution to adolescents is a sinful attempt.
A study on occurrence of academic misconduct has been reported in the literature from Pakistan, related to students of business, commerce and engineering [ 11] and another on knowledge and perceptions of plagiarism in the medical college fraternity [ 12].
A possible explanation for this observation could be that the systematic interventions and establishment of institutions to minimize scientific misconduct and encourage credible conduct of research in the US might have impacted positively on the occurrence of scientific misconduct [ 1, 23].
Faculty members should make every effort to take such action within one week of the alleged occurrence of academic misconduct.
The perception of occurrence of scientific misconduct in the workplace in this study is much higher than any other existing reports on this topic [ 16, 17].
Furthermore, they are concerned that their institutions do not have effective mechanisms in place to reduce the occurrence of scientific misconduct.
In this study there was, surprisingly, no statistically significant association between the work environment and the perceived occurrence of scientific misconduct in the workplace.
We found that in most cases, authors experienced a significant fall in productivity following a finding of misconduct.
It is important to emphasise that while these changes do appear to have successfully reduced the occurrences of academic misconduct in the Unit, they have not hindered any genuine students' ability to complete the Unit and score a high grade, and as such, are consistent with the aim of implementing teaching and supporting learning that influence, motivate, and inspire students to learn.
