The Chinese Dilemma of Research Misconduct

Abstract

This paper examines research misconduct in Chinese higher education and argues that such misconduct is best understood as a systemic outcome of interacting structural, organizational, cultural, situational and individual factors. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 14 faculty members from two top-tier research universities in Shanghai, the study analyzes academics' perceptions of research misconduct, its underlying causes and feasible remedial strategies. Empirically, the findings identify a typology of prevalent practices—including plagiarism, data fabrication and unethical authorship—shaped by performance-driven evaluation regimes, hierarchical governance, cultural norms and regulatory gaps. Theoretically, the study makes an original contribution by being the first to systematically apply Davis's five-dimensional framework to elite Chinese universities, while also identifying guanxi as a context-specific extension. The paper offers actionable implications for policymakers, university leaders and academic staff seeking to strengthen research integrity in rapidly globalizing higher education systems.