Ética na pesquisa científica: reflexões sobre o plágio

Abstract

Plagiarism in scientific research is an ethical and legal issue that demands attention and preventive measures. This summary explores its different forms, including verbatim copying, idea appropriation, undeclared multiple authorship, and self-plagiarism, highlighting its ethical and legal implications. Plagiarism can be intentional or unintentional, but in both cases it compromises intellectual integrity and the fundamental principles of knowledge production. Causes such as pressure for productivity, lack of adequate guidance and a culture of impunity facilitate its occurrence, while psychosocial factors, such as situational ethics, can distort the perception of what constitutes plagiarism. The consequences of plagiarism are severe, affecting the credibility of scientific research, devaluing intellectual merit and damaging the reputation of researchers and institutions. Furthermore, legal implications and sanctions, ranging from retraction of the work to the exclusion of the author from the academic community, may be applied. Prevention and combat strategies include promoting ethics from basic training, adequate guidance, use of plagiarism detection technologies and creation of clear institutional policies. A culture of integrity and responsibility is also essential to promote academic honesty and ensure the credibility of scientific research.