What does "research misconduct" commonly refer to?

Research misconduct commonly refers to fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism because these three activities directly violate ethical standards in research and publication. Fabrication involves making up data or results and recording or reporting them. Falsification means manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record. Plagiarism involves using someone else's work or ideas without proper attribution, presenting them as one’s own.

These actions undermine the integrity of the research process and erode trust in scientific output, which is why they are specifically highlighted as misconduct. Addressing these issues is crucial for maintaining credible research practices and ensuring that findings are valid and reliable.

In contrast, the other options refer to issues that, while they may reflect poor research practices or ethical lapses, do not meet the specific criteria for research misconduct as defined by most institutions and organizations.