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Economic Times
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Fudging facts at Harvard: Professor Francesca Gino loses tenure over data fabrication
While Harvard is making headlines for its battle with 'Trump University' to effectively emerge as America's de facto opposition party, the Ivy League college has made news for another reason. It recently stripped behavioural scientist and till recently Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino of her tenure. The charge: fabricating research data. The irony of ironies being that her research topic was 'Honesty and ethical behaviour'.It all began with the blog, 'Data Colada', an academic research watchdog since 2013 that carefully reanalyses published data to identify irregularities or potential fraud. Data Colada released claims in 2021 of extensive evidence of alleged fraud in four scholarly articles that Gino had co-authored. The blog had expressed their worries to HBS four years ago, adding that none of Gino's co-authors were involved in fraud. After concluding that the 47-year-old academic had committed 'research misconduct intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly', Harvard initiated an internal inquiry, placing her on unpaid administrative leave in 2023. While examining version control in Microsoft Excel, it appeared that different rows inside a spreadsheet had been altered. According to experts, data before the suspected manipulation didn't reveal the effect the researchers wanted to observe. But data after the purported modification did seem to indicate participants were asked to complete insurance and tax forms in a study. It was discovered that people who were asked to sign declarations of truthfulness at the top of the page were more truthful than people who were asked to sign statements at the however, sued the university and her accusers for $25 mn, alleging defamation, gender discrimination and invasion of privacy. She claimed the accusations damaged her reputation. But last September, a federal judge in Boston rejected her defamation lawsuit, stating that, as a public figure, she was subject to scrutiny protected by the First Amendment. Since the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) established regulations regarding firings in the 1940s, Gino has now become the first Harvard professor to lose tenure. This is hardly the first instance of academic misconduct involving data. A scandal involving Harvard Medical School's John Darsee shook the academic world in the 1980s. Darsee had published a significant number of papers in prestigious journals. However, by May 1981, his colleagues accused him of systematic and frequent fabrication. Investigators claimed that Darsee had presented data from experiments that were never conducted, and had 'expanded' other data to produce more significant results. Eventually, he had more than 80 papers removed from the literature. He was relieved of his posts at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Academic data manipulation is likely to be rampant today. An average of 2% of scientists admitted at least one instance of fabricating, falsifying or altering data, according to a 2009 paper published in PLoS One, 'How Many Scientists Fabricate and Falsify Research? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Survey Data'. Gino's - and Harvard's action against her - is a landmark case that could well serve as a model for how other academic institutions respond to allegations of academic dishonesty. On the flip side, excessively stringent enforcement could stifle creativity and run the risk of drawing unfavourable attention to organisations, thereby disincentivising them from taking action against unethical faculty is Gino's case, in particular, receiving so much public attention? She was one of Harvard's highest-paid professors, earning over $1 mn in 2018 and 2019. So, is it because the scam involves a star academic? Or is it due to the nature of the accusation - data manipulation? Does it have to do with data sanctity, integrity, dependability and trustworthiness? Does society care so much about data integrity? Apparently data evidence is nothing new to people in other professions. However, very few of them have jobs taken away from them for falsifying. The academic community has certainly become stricter about research misconduct involving data, and Gino was undoubtedly punished because academicians are subject to more stringent codes of conduct and constant scrutiny from peers than in other professions. In a sense, a watchdog got bit by watchdogs. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. 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Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
The jaw-dropping salary of the Harvard professor Francesca Gino fired for data manipulation
Francesca Gino , a former professor at Harvard Business School , was once among the university's most highly compensated employees—earning an eye-popping $1 million per year. Between 2018 and 2019, she was the fifth-highest-paid employee at Harvard, drawing a six-figure salary that placed her well above many academic peers. But Gino's high-profile career—and high salary—came crashing down when Harvard fired her following a damning investigation into alleged research misconduct. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Famous Celebrities With Unexpected Degrees Learn More Undo A Million-Dollar Scandal Gino, a behavioral scientist known for her work on ethics, dishonesty, and human behavior, was placed on unpaid leave and ultimately fired after Harvard concluded that she had manipulated data in at least four published studies between 2012 and 2020. The university also stripped her of tenure—making her the first Harvard professor to lose tenure since the 1940s. Live Events The controversy began in October 2021, when questions were raised about a study she co-authored. The research claimed that having people sign an honesty pledge at the beginning of a form, rather than at the end, significantly increased truthful responses. That study was retracted in 2021 after suspicions of data fabrication emerged. Soon after, the blog Data Colada, run by three behavioral scientists, published a series of posts alleging data fraud in four of Gino's co-authored papers. The claims triggered a full-scale investigation by Harvard throughout 2022 and 2023. No Margin for Error Investigators reviewed her raw data, emails, and research manuscripts and even brought in an outside forensic firm for further analysis. They concluded that Gino had intentionally altered data to ensure the findings supported her hypotheses. Her explanations—citing possible mistakes by research assistants or malicious tampering—were rejected by investigators. Despite Gino's public denial of the allegations—stating on her website, 'I did not commit academic fraud. I did not manipulate data to produce a particular result'—Harvard moved forward with termination proceedings. She later filed a $25 million defamation lawsuit against Harvard, HBS Dean Srikant Datar, and the Data Colada bloggers. But in September, a federal judge in Boston dismissed the claims, ruling that as a public figure, Gino's academic work was subject to public scrutiny under the First Amendment.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Harvard Professor fired: The most shocking part? Not the fraud, but the salary
So, Harvard just fired a professor and no, this isn't your average academic drama. Francesca Gino, a big name at Harvard Business School known for researching honesty and ethics, has been shown the door after being caught fudging data in multiple studies. But here's the real kicker: the fraud was bad, sure, but her salary? That's what really has people's jaws on the floor. The rise and fall of Harvard's "honesty expert" Francesca Gino wasn't just any professor. She was a star in the world of behavioral science, writing bestselling books, racking up awards, and speaking at top companies about how to build trust, promote ethical behavior, and boost integrity. Her research was quoted everywhere from boardrooms to TED Talks. She built an empire on understanding why people lie... turns out she could've just looked in the mirror. It all started back in 2021, when the blog Data Colada raised suspicions about the accuracy of some of Gino's published data. What began as quiet academic gossip turned into a full-blown scandal. Harvard launched an internal investigation, and outside experts were called in to examine her research. The result? At least four studies showed clear signs of data manipulation. Several papers were retracted, and Gino's academic reputation took a nosedive almost overnight. The salary that raised eyebrows Here's where things go from bad to straight-up bonkers. While the data fraud is serious, what really shocked people was her paycheck. Reports suggest that Gino was pulling in over $1 million a year from Harvard alone, making her one of the highest-paid professors on campus. That's not even counting the $50,000 to $100,000 she allegedly made per speaking gig. Yep, people were shelling out big bucks to hear her talk about ethics. The internet did not take this well. People weren't just mad about the fraud—they were floored that someone earning that kind of money could get away with manipulating research for so long. After being fired, Gino didn't go quietly. She hit back with a $25 million lawsuit against Harvard, accusing the university of defamation and unfair treatment. She claims Harvard applied a new policy retroactively, giving her no fair shot at defending herself. Some of her claims have already been thrown out, but parts of the case—like breach of contract—are still ongoing.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
In a stunning first for US academia, Harvard revokes tenure for ethics scholar Francesca Gino over data manipulation
Harvard revokes tenure for ethics scholar Francesca Gino in unprecedented US academic case. (Getty Images) Harvard University has taken the extraordinary step of revoking tenure from Francesca Gino, a world-renowned ethics scholar, following an internal investigation that found evidence of data manipulation. This rare decision marks one of the most significant disciplinary actions in US higher education in recent decades and has ignited widespread debate on academic integrity and research ethics. The Harvard Corporation, the university's top governing board, confirmed the move this month, ending Gino's employment at Harvard Business School. Gino, celebrated internationally for her work on honesty and ethical behaviour, had faced serious allegations of academic misconduct and fraud, which she denied. Several sources told the WGBH News that the decision was communicated to business faculty during a confidential meeting last week. Feeling Alone While Studying Abroad? 7 Proven Tips to Build Real Connections and Friendships Investigation uncovers manipulated data in multiple studies Concerns about Gino's research surfaced in 2023 after a group of behavioural scientists running a blog called Data Colada flagged irregularities in some of her work. Harvard promptly launched an internal inquiry which concluded that Gino had manipulated data in at least four studies to support her hypotheses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Todos os idosos deveriam ter um desse no banheiro! Veja só! Evite quedas e escorregões Saiba Mais Undo As a result, she was placed on unpaid administrative leave while the investigation proceeded. The university's disciplinary action is highly unusual. According to Harvard, stripping a professor of tenure is a step not taken for decades. In fact, WGBH News could not identify any prior example where the Harvard Corporation had revoked tenure entirely. Gino's case is now seen as a landmark moment that may prompt other universities to revisit how they handle allegations of scientific fraud. Lawsuit and court rulings deepen controversy In response to the allegations and investigation, Gino filed a $25 million lawsuit against Harvard, Harvard Business School Dean Srikant Datar, and the Data Colada bloggers. She claimed defamation, gender discrimination, and invasion of privacy, arguing the accusations irreparably harmed her reputation. However, a federal judge in Boston dismissed her defamation claims last September, ruling that as a public figure she was subject to scrutiny protected by the First Amendment, as reported by the WGBH. The legal battle and the university's disciplinary measures come at a tense moment for US higher education. The Department of Homeland Security recently moved to revoke Harvard's authority to enrol international scholars, who make up a quarter of its student body, unless the university hands over disciplinary records and protest footage. Harvard challenged this order in court, with a federal judge temporarily blocking the administration's action ahead of a scheduled hearing, as reported by the WGBH. Wider implications for US academia and international students M any Harvard professors familiar with the case expressed concern over rising anti-intellectualism and attacks on academic freedom, especially from the current Trump administration. Some fear that these pressures risk damaging US higher education's global standing and could deter talented researchers from both inside and outside the country. Gino, originally from Italy, has been a prominent figure internationally, delivering presentations to Fortune 500 companies worldwide. Over a third of Harvard Business School's MBA students come from abroad, contributing substantial tuition revenue that supports domestic students through financial aid. Legal experts suggest that tenure revocations like Gino's could become more common if universities more aggressively address academic misconduct. However, as quoted by the WGBH, some warn that overly strict policing might discourage innovation and risk attracting negative attention to institutions. This unprecedented case at Harvard serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing challenges facing US academia in balancing transparency, academic freedom, and research integrity. Ready to empower your child for the AI era? Join our program now! Hurry, only a few seats left.
Fox News
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Harvard revokes professor's tenure in rare move amid data manipulation allegations
Print Close By Pilar Arias Published May 28, 2025 Harvard University has revoked the tenure of Francesca Gino, a professor of business administration, who was accused of data fraud. Gino has been fighting the allegations for almost four years, The Harvard Crimson reports. The student newspaper says Gino was well-known for studying honesty and ethical behavior before she was accused of manipulating observations to support her hypotheses. "This is the first time it has occurred in recent decades," a Harvard spokesperson told Fox News Digital via email regarding the tenure being revoked. Prior to losing academic protection, Gino fought for two years to keep her position at the Ivy League school. In 2018 and 2019, she was the fifth-highest paid employee at the prestigious school, receiving more than $1 million in compensation each year, The Harvard Crimson reported. HARVARD PRESIDENT URGES THE SCHOOL TO ADDRESS LACK OF CONSERVATIVES ON CAMPUS Gino had authored over 140 scholarly papers and won numerous awards prior to coming under scrutiny by scholars who questioned her data in a series of blog posts published on Data Colada. "In 2021, we and a team of anonymous researchers examined a number of studies co-authored by Gino, because we had concerns that they contained fraudulent data," the blog reads. "We discovered evidence of fraud in papers spanning over a decade, including papers published quite recently (in 2020)." HOW FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY PLANS TO END SCHOOL YEAR FOLLOWING DEADLY SHOOTING The blog's authors shared their concerns with Harvard Business School in the fall of 2021. Gino, who filed a lawsuit against the blog authors and Harvard, according to The Hill, with parts of the lawsuit still ongoing. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP She last publicly declared her innocence on her website. "I did not commit academic fraud. I did not manipulate data to produce a particular result. I did not falsify data to bolster any result. I did not commit the offense I am accused of. Period," she wrote. Fox News Digital made attempts to reach Gino for comment, but did not immediately hear back. Print Close URL
