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How research institutions can make the best of scandals – once they become unavoidable

Author

Listed:
  • Gilles Grolleau

    (CEE-M - Centre d'Economie de l'Environnement - Montpellier - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement - UM - Université de Montpellier, ESSCA Research Lab - ESSCA - Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Commerciales d'Angers)

  • Naoufel Mzoughi

    (ECODEVELOPPEMENT - Ecodéveloppement - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

Abstract

We posit that, once scandals become unavoidable, they can be considered for transformation into opportunities for research institutions, scientific communities and science regulators to implement in-depth changes and policies they would otherwise oppose. Research institutions and scientific communities can take advantage of scandals by participating proactively in constructing their consequences. We develop four mechanisms by which scandals can be used to bring positive change in research institutions and scientific communities. These are nullifying the high-status protection of almost untouchable researchers, ‘resetting' the system that was conducive to scandals, changing the reference point upon which the entity is judged to emphasize progress and offering a learning opportunity to involved parties.

Suggested Citation

  • Gilles Grolleau & Naoufel Mzoughi, 2022. "How research institutions can make the best of scandals – once they become unavoidable," Post-Print hal-03908837, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03908837
    DOI: 10.13169/prometheus.38.3.0282
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03908837
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gebhardt, Beate & Hellstern, Laura, 2023. "Die Kraft von Awards. Umfrage unter Unternehmen und Vergabeinstitutionen in Deutschland 2023," Working Papers 338798, Universitaet Hohenheim, Institute of Agricultural Policy and Agricultural Markets.

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