THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING

Tainted Data

As a report [of contract research] is being printed, the author discovers that some of the data included in the report was inadvertently invalidated by a technician who did not follow the test protocol. A delay in the publication of this report would have a negative impact on other programs; however, it is impossible to rerun the experiment to correct the data since the samples have been destroyed. The author of the report and other experts in the field all agree that this data have very little effect on the results of the research. As research director, what do you do?

• Tainted Data: Answer A

  Since the compromised data have little effect on the results of the research, go ahead and print the report 'as is.'

• Tainted Data: Answer B

  Inform the customer of the compromised data in the report and let him make the decision as to whether to print the results.

• Tainted Data: Answer C

  Refuse to print the report and refund the customer's money.

• Tainted Data: Answer D

  Print the research report with a qualifying statement about the compromised data, while emphasizing that this data have very little effect on the results of the research.

National Academy of Engineering

500 Fifth Street, NWWashington, DC 20001T. 202.334.3200F. 202.334.2290