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Fraudulent images in research (July 12, 2006).
Category: Fraud in research
Fraud in research is a big problem. One issue that has come up recently is that graphical
images can be "Photoshopped" to present the image in a way that does not truly represent how
the original research was done. Photoshop is a very useful program that can enhance images,
but it must be used very carefully and with very limited objectives There are some
recently published guidelines that are worth keeping in mind.
In particular, you can't use Photoshop to delete a band from a blot or gel, even if you
believe that band is an artefact. You can't artificially add duplicate lanes to a blot by
using the clone tool. If you use the contrast and brightness controls to improve the quality
of the image, be sure that your efforts to clean up the image you don't artificially enhance
or remove important features.
References
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Stop misbehaving! Ushma S. Neill. The Journal of Clinical Investigation 2006: 116(7);
1740-1741.
[Abstract]
[Full text]
[PDF]
(Evidence, Corroboration)
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What's in a picture? The temptation of image manipulation. M. Rossner, K. M. Yamada.
Journal of Cell Biology 2004: 166(1); 11-5.
[Medline] [Full text]
[PDF] (Evidence, Corroboration)
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When did everyone become so naughty? U. Savla. The Journal of Clinical Investigation
2004: 113(8); 1072.
[Medline]
[Abstract]
[Full text]
[PDF]
(Evidence, Corroboration)
07/08/2008.
