One definition of "misconduct" in research is to say that it refers to conduct not conforming to ethical principles such as those outlined above. The more common usage of this term, however, includes a regulatory connotation. Misconduct policies are established by institutions in order to delineate activities and practices for which a researcher may be punished. Thus definitions of misconduct tend to focus on standards that are more readily enforced. In other words, it is possible to be in compliance with appropriate regulatory standards regarding misconduct while still not adhering to all the ethical standards associated with one's own discipline.

A federal-wide definition of research misconduct was developed and adopted by the Office of Science Technology and Technology Policy on December 6, 2000:

"Research misconduct is defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results."

Specific terms are further defined:

"Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them."

"Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record."

"Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving proper credit."

There is a specific exclusion:

"Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion."

This federal-wide policy will be implemented by eighteen federal agencies through administrative action. This implementation will take some time as it may require agencies to develop, revise, or replace existing regulations. The National Science Foundation has recently implemented this new definition by revising its existing regulation applying to allegations of scientific misconduct (45CFR689). This new regulation became effective on April 17, 2002. Please click here to download a PDF of the new regulation.