Abstract

Many Egyptian public academic and research institutions are facing challenges due to the rise of the practices research misconduct. These practices are data fabrication, data falsification and plagiarism. In moderately or poorly developed nations, there is a dearth of information about research misconduct. Fabrication, falsification and plagiarism are threatening the integrity of scientific research as they have become part of the research culture. Based on that, the main objectives of this study are to determine the intertwined risk factors that contribute to the occurrence of research misconduct in Egypt, and in turn, examine the perceptions and attitude of Egyptian researchers towards the practices of research misconduct. In order to fulfill these objectives, semi-structured interviews were conducted with graduate students studying in Egyptian public universities, alumni of Egyptian public universities and academic faculty members working in different Egyptian public academic or research institutions. The data analysis of the current study is most relevant to the higher education system of Egypt. The findings of the current investigation showed that although the absence of awareness is a key factor that lead to the occurrence of the practices of research misconduct in Egyptian public universities and research institutions, there are many other intertwined factors that can result in this multifaceted phenomenon. Therefore, a clear way is paved for institutions to set up mechanisms and sustainable solutions to reduce research misconduct practices in Egypt.

Department

Public Policy & Administration Department

Degree Name

MA in Public Administration

Graduation Date

6-1-2019

Submission Date

May 2019

First Advisor

Barsoum, Ghada

Committee Member 1

El Baradei, Laila

Committee Member 2

Ali, Hamid

Extent

83p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

Comments

After an intensive period of more than two years, I would like to write these words of appreciation as the finishing touch of my thesis. Indeed, it has been a journey of intense learning for me, not only at the scientific level, but also at a personal level. I wish to extend my deep gratitude through reflecting on the people who have helped and supported me endlessly throughout this period. First, I would like to thank Dr. Ghada Barsoum, associate professor and the Chair of the Public Policy and Administration Department, who has always put me on the right track, and whose knowledge, guidance, sincerity and dynamism have deeply inspired me all the way. She has been a role model, tremendous supervisor and great mentor for me. I owe a debt of gratefulness for her precious time and careful attention to detail. Her office was always open whenever I ran into trouble or had inquiries about my research. Words cannot express how grateful I am to her as she has taught me more than I could ever give her credit for here. Indeed, it was a great honor and privilege for me to work under her guidance and I believe that without her help and guidance, I would not have been able to complete my dissertation. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Dr. Laila El Baradei, professor of public policy and administration, and Dr. Hamid Ali, associate professor of public policy and administration, for the time they spared during revising the thesis. Indeed, they have enriched my background during my master’s journey, and I am really lucky to take with them different valuable courses and to be one of their students. I would like to thank all the researchers, who are working in the public academic and research institutions for their assistance, hospitality and the time they allocated for the interviews to produce this research in the best shape. Last but not least, I would like to express my deep gratefulness to my family. I would like to thank my beloved mother and brother. I cannot find words to express my gratefulness to them. they always encourage me to achieve my goals and be a better person. Without their continuous support, resilience and encouragement, I would not have been able to make this accomplishment. I would also like to express my heartfelt appreciation to my dear father for his continuous efforts and support. He sincerely helped, supported and encouraged me over the years of completing this master’s degree. He always inspires me by saying “Leave your comfort zone and keep learning new things.” Words cannot describe how lucky I am to have all of you in my life. Passant Elwy Moustafa

Download

Share

COinS