Researchers Come Clean When They Dont Know the Answers

Almost 2,000 individuals participated in an Instant Poll sponsored by The Science Advisory Board designed to assess whether ones honesty or ones ego was more important in the biomedical sciences. When placed in a high-pressure situation-presenting ones work at an important conference-only 3% of the respondents admitted that they would make-up an answer when asked a question that they did not know. In sharp contrast, over half of the participants would in fact confess to not being able to provide an answer suggesting that integrity is valued more than reputation.

ARLINGTON, VA --(PRWEB) September 5, 2003 -- Almost 2,000 individuals participated in an Instant Poll sponsored by The Science Advisory Board designed to assess whether ones honesty or ones ego was more important in the biomedical sciences. When placed in a high-pressure situation-presenting ones work at an important conference-only 3% of the respondents admitted that they would make-up an answer when asked a question that they did not know. In sharp contrast, over half of the participants would in fact confess to not being able to provide an answer suggesting that integrity is valued more than reputation.

Of the remaining 46% of the respondents, the majority (36%) would not quite admit to not knowing the answer, but instead stated that they would need to check on a few details and would follow-up privately with the questioner later. The last 10% would elect to rephrase the original question into a question that they could answer. It certainly takes a great deal of professional confidence to admit in front of ones peers that one may not be 'as smart as one is thought to be," observes Tamara Zemlo, Ph.D., MPH, Director of Scientific and Medical Communications for The Science Advisory Board, however, the relatively high percentage of people who dont quite come out and say that they do not know (but do not outright lie), convinces me that professional pride is still an important characteristic of the scientific and medical professions."

ABOUT THE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD

The Science Advisory Board is an online panel of more than 16,200 scientists, physicians and other life science and medical professionals from 62 countries. By convening electronically, Science Advisory Board members participate in online studies to voice their opinions on issues that directly affect the evolution and development of the tools and techniques of their professions. Scientists can contribute their own views on the tools and techniques of their field by participating at http://www.scienceboard.net. The Science Advisory Board was organized in 1997 by BioInformatics, LLC (http://www.gene2drug.com), a research and consulting firm located in Arlington, VA.

CONTACT:
Dr. Tamara Zemlo
Director, Scientific & Medical Communications
The Science Advisory Board
2111 Wilson Blvd, Suite 250
Arlington, VA 22201
703.778.3080 x25 phone
t.zemlo@scienceboard.net
http://www.scienceboard.net