Question

How might one explain the upswing in scientific fraud in the 1980s?

Answer 1

The reason or explanation for the upswing in scientific fraud in the 1980s is that; as there is an increase in fierce competition for getting the grant money, which goes to researchers who can produce, or assert that they can produce, the most impressive new findings in a very short period of time. Thus apart from the deliberate bias, scientists see problems due to the widening tolerance for sloppy and unrepeatable experiments and careless way of interpreting results.