Why social norms matter in science: Determinants of misconduct in German-speaking Europe

Science studies have often emphasized the “what” of misconduct while neglecting the equally important “why”. Using a sociological lens, we shed light on the mechanisms underlying scientific misconduct and contribute to theoretical debates on its causes. We propose several potential individual and structural drivers of scientific misconduct, including alienation, rational considerations, and social norms and test these hypotheses using survey data on scientists in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Unlike the majority of previous literature, we find no relationship between structural pressures in academia and misconduct. Rather, researchers who feel alienated from their work or who view misconduct as profitable, with high benefits and low costs and risks, are more likely to engage in it. Conversely, when researchers internalize norms of scientific integrity, misconduct decreases. Our results confirm the roles of rational decision-making and social norms in regulating misconduct and suggest that strengthening ethical norms could improve the state of science.