A groundbreaking study published in The Review of Economics and Statistics reveals that the scientific community actively penalizes researchers accused of sexual misconduct through measurable academic consequences. Researchers from the Max Planck Society systematically analyzed 210 U.S. academics across all disciplines who faced public sexual misconduct allegations between 1998 and 2019. The study demonstrates that following allegations, scientists’ previously published work receives significantly fewer citations compared to similar articles from the same journal issues, showing how academic communities enforce social norms beyond just research integrity violations.
The research uncovers crucial patterns in how misconduct penalties propagate through professional networks. Co-authorship relationships serve as primary channels for spreading awareness about allegations, with former collaborators and close colleagues showing the strongest citation reductions—particularly male peers in proximity to the accused. Interestingly, the response varies by disciplinary culture, with more muted effects in male-dominated fields, suggesting that institutional norms shape community reactions to misconduct. The citation penalty for sexual misconduct appears comparable in magnitude to penalties for scientific misconduct like fraud or plagiarism.
Beyond citation impacts, the study documents substantial career consequences for those accused of sexual misconduct. Alleged perpetrators experience reduced publication output, diminished collaboration opportunities, and higher rates of departure from academic research altogether. These findings are especially significant given that sexual misconduct doesn’t directly challenge the validity of the accused researchers’ scientific work, yet still triggers robust community responses that affect professional standing and career trajectories.
This research provides crucial evidence for scientific organizations and institutions seeking to strengthen professional norms in increasingly collaborative research environments. By demonstrating that scientific communities self-regulate against harmful behaviors unrelated to research validity, the study offers important insights for developing more effective policies addressing misconduct and fostering healthier academic cultures. The findings underscore how social dynamics and professional networks contribute to maintaining ethical standards in science, beyond formal institutional sanctions.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://phys.org/news/2025-09-sexual-misconduct-science-penalties-fraud.html.