What type of research misconduct is characterized by the intentional removal of data points to generate a deceptive conclusion?

Falsification refers to the manipulation of research data or results with the intention of misleading others. When a researcher intentionally removes specific data points, they can create an inaccurate representation of their findings, thus generating a deceptive conclusion. This unethical practice undermines the integrity of research as it distorts the true outcomes of a study and can lead to false claims or erroneous conclusions.

In contrast, fabrication involves making up data or results that were never actually obtained, while plagiarism pertains to using someone else’s work or ideas without proper attribution. An authorship dispute relates to disagreements over who deserves credit for a piece of research, which does not involve misrepresentation of data itself. Thus, falsification is specifically tied to the manipulation of existing data to mislead others.