Don't jump to conclusions on fraud.

In their otherwise fine Editorial “Addressing scientific fraud” (2 December 2011, p. [1182][1]), J. Crocker and M. L. Cooper use unfortunate and ill-advised language when they refer to “the fraudulent work published” by Marc Hauser. Crocker and Cooper rightly criticize Harvard University for keeping secret its findings in the investigation of Hauser. However, stating unreservedly that Hauser has committed fraud is not acceptable. First, all that Harvard has stated is that its secret committee found that Hauser has engaged in unspecified types of “scientific misconduct” ([ 1 ][2]). Certainly, there are many types of misconduct that do not constitute fraud. Second, Harvard's findings are neither public nor the result of legal review and thus are not definitive. Finally, recent developments call into question the severity of whatever it is that Hauser may have done: Two of the three published studies in question have been repeated, and the results have confirmed the originally published work ([ 2 ][3]–[ 4 ][4]). Consequently, scientific fraud does not seem to be the issue involved in these two cases. One has to wonder what the problem was in these and the other cases in question ([ 5 ][5]–[ 6 ][6]). 1. [↵][7] 1. G. Miller , “Harvard dean confirms misconduct in Hauser investigation,” ScienceInsider ( ). 2. [↵][8] 1. G. Miller , “ Science publishes replication of 2007 Hauser study,” ScienceInsider ( ). 3. 1. J. N. Wood, 2. M. D. Hauser , Science 332, 537 (2011). [OpenUrl][9][Abstract/FREE Full Text][10] 4. [↵][11] 1. M. D. Hauser, 2. J. N. Wood , Proc. R. Soc. London Ser. B 278, 158 (2011). [OpenUrl][12][FREE Full Text][13] 5. [↵][14] 1. P. Pica , “Accused Harvard scientist should be vindicated,” Real Clear Science (18 May 2011); [www.realclearscience.com/articles/2011/05/18/accused\_harvard\_scientist\_should\_be\_vindicated\_106238.html][15]. 6. [↵][16] 1. J. B. Losos , “The Crimson: Wrong about Hauser,” The Harvard Crimson (6 September, 2011); [www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/9/6/hauser-misconduct-lad-crimson/][17]. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1216775 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #ref-4 [5]: #ref-5 [6]: #ref-6 [7]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [8]: #xref-ref-2-1 "View reference 2 in text" [9]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DScience%26rft.stitle%253DScience%26rft.aulast%253DClusella-Trullas%26rft.auinit1%253DS.%26rft.volume%253D332%26rft.issue%253D6029%26rft.spage%253D537%26rft.epage%253D537%26rft.atitle%253DComment%2Bon%2B%2522Erosion%2Bof%2BLizard%2BDiversity%2Bby%2BClimate%2BChange%2Band%2BAltered%2BThermal%2BNiches%2522%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1126%252Fscience.1195193%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F21527699%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [10]: /lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiQUJTVCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6Mzoic2NpIjtzOjU6InJlc2lkIjtzOjE0OiIzMzIvNjAyOS81MzctYSI7czo0OiJhdG9tIjtzOjI0OiIvc2NpLzMzNi82MDgwLzQxMi4yLmF0b20iO31zOjg6ImZyYWdtZW50IjtzOjA6IiI7fQ== [11]: #xref-ref-4-1 "View reference 4 in text" [12]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DProc.%2BR.%2BSoc.%2BLondon%2BSer.%2BB%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1098%252Frspb.2010.1441%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F21155189%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [13]: /lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiRlVMTCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6Nzoicm95cHJzYiI7czo1OiJyZXNpZCI7czoxMjoiMjc4LzE3MDIvMTU4IjtzOjQ6ImF0b20iO3M6MjQ6Ii9zY2kvMzM2LzYwODAvNDEyLjIuYXRvbSI7fXM6ODoiZnJhZ21lbnQiO3M6MDoiIjt9 [14]: #xref-ref-5-1 "View reference 5 in text" [15]: http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2011/05/18/accused_harvard_scientist_should_be_vindicated_106238.html [16]: #xref-ref-6-1 "View reference 6 in text" [17]: http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/9/6/hauser-misconduct-lad-crimson/