Normative Underpinnings of Questionable Research Practices

Where Do We Draw the Line? Rethinking Questionable Research Practices

In a world where research integrity is more critical than ever, the greatest threat to science may not be outright fraud—but the grey area in between.

Our study takes a bold step beyond simply listing questionable research practices (QRPs) by asking a deeper, more pressing question: when does a practice become questionable in the first place? Using the theory of communicative action, we explore the normative foundations of QRPs—where justifiability meets judgment—and reveal why individual decisions can’t be fully understood outside their collective context.

We introduce a new framework to help scholars, institutions, and policymakers assess when research behaviors cross the line from acceptable to unacceptable. This i ...