This case is intended for a graduate level audience in any field of investigative research.
Researchers can become very protective of their own work.
Their ultimate goals do no necessarily depend on the success of their peers. Credit is often assigned to a few, maybe only one person - the fewer the persons, the more prestige. A successful dissertation also requires sufficient results. At the same time, it is vital that the research group work well together. What this case really gets at is the issue of ownership of ideas.