Dear all,
I have experienced corruption (some unethical practices of authors in scholarly publishing). Now I want to write about this evil (to write a research paper to warn the corrupted people). But I cannot disclose their names because it is indeed dangerous for my professional and personal security. Is their any way in the world of research that can support me? Is there any research method that can work for me as my lawyer/safe-guard? Simply, how should I make my work valid without disclosing/unmasking identities?
I think, this question is vague or poetical but I suppose that there is no harm to ask it to my dear experts.
You are welcome to give me your suggestions.
Regards,
Hi,
A research of group dynamics in a workplace could help your research. You do not have to use people's identity, but to describe the groups dynamic in various situations. One way of performing such research is by examining the effect of good and bad leadership on the group in a workplace.
Hi,
A research of group dynamics in a workplace could help your research. You do not have to use people's identity, but to describe the groups dynamic in various situations. One way of performing such research is by examining the effect of good and bad leadership on the group in a workplace.
The research efforts and experiences that lead to quality publication in standard Journal are best and valid.
Simply, how should I make my work valid without disclosing/unmasking identities?
I think you can mask their identities just like conducting a qualitative research whereby interviewed informant's information can be kept anonymous in the report / research paper.
The first thing that you have to do is to sit down and calmly decide what, exactly, is it that you want to accomplish. Form a battle plan because you will be going to war.
1) Is it immediate exposure of the perpetrators? If so, that can have severe repercussions on your life/career, especially if you have no objective, verifiable proofs, and, if you are in a subordinate position in that particular institution. There is also the fact that you reside in Pakistan and it is one of those countries that are the most dangerous for women. So, if you wish to expose these people you must have objective proofs (with copies), you must prepare yourself for retaliation, you must have an outlet for demonstrating the illegal/unethical activities (otherwise, it stays in house and no one outside the institution---or even inside---knows what has happened) and, lastly, you should hopefully have an alternate place of potential employment. If you wish to be employed in another institution and a requirement is a good letter of recommendation from the perpetrator, it may be a good idea to postpone revelation until you are safely in a new position.
2) Do you wish to publish a paper on unethical/illegal practices and wish to use your personal information? One possibility is to do nothing but keep gathering data on further illegal/unethical acts on this and other perpetrators for a future revelation. Again, you MUST obtain objective, verifiable proofs (documents, videos). When you do publish, you might want to submit to journals that the perpetrator, and his minions, do not consult (assuming that you have not identified the perpetrators; if you do specifically name him/them, expect them to defend themselves by calling you a liar, etc. and attempt to retaliate.
3) A third possibility that you should carry out, either independently or in conjunction with either one of the other two, is to contact several of the major international scientific journal editors and ask them for advice and/or help. The issue of fraudulent research is something that is taken extremely serious in reputable countries and the scientists in those countries are up in arms over the problem (we all know that the "research" carried out in Asia is crap because of this problem, with the exception of Japan; nobody takes it seriously). Also, contact some of the department hears in some of the major universities (Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Stanton, MIT) for the same reason.
4) Regardless of what you decide, get a letter of recommendation from the perpetrator. Say that you are going to apply to several colleges/institutions and to give you the letter so that you can make copies and mail them out. Why? Because if you go ahead and you are discovered and he says what a terrible person you are, then you have documentation proving that he thought you were a good person before you made the revelation.
Good luck.
It is a very complex issue, but I will go with all the advice given thus far. I think as you follow good ethical practices, you should be able to publish without any major repercussions to yourself.
Best regards,
Debra
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