Suppressing research data: methods, context, accountability, and responses

Authors

Brian Martin, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

74823

Publication Details

Martin, B. (1999). Suppressing research data: methods, context, accountability, and responses.. Accountability in Research, 6 (4), 333-372.

Link to publisher version (URL)

Suppressing research data

Abstract

Research data can be suppressed in various ways, including organizational secrecy, defamation law and refusal to reply to queries. In a broader sense, methods of suppression include pressures not to do research in the first place and attacks on scientists who produce unwelcome data. The context of this sort of suppression includes individual self-interest, vested interests, and paradigms. Suppressing research data can be either compatible with or contrary to accountability, depending on the constituencies involved. Ways to challenge suppression of research data include individual requests, exposés, refusal to suppress, publicity, creating new data, and social movements.