Academic novels on research integrity

Fiction books on aspects of research integrity can be a valuable supplement to normative guidelines on how research should be done. They provide concrete examples of violations of the laws, regulations and codes of conduct that make the norms of scientific research explicit. Their narratives sketch fictional cases of research misconduct and questionable research practices, and the circumstances under which they can occur. Novels can realistically depict the dilemmas scholars need to navigate in an accessible way that readers can relate to both intellectually and emotionally. This may help them to reflect on what a good researcher is and what academic scholars can do to stay close to that ideal. A total of 35 novels dealing with research integrity themes from the last 100 years is reviewed, with special attention to the research integrity topics, its drivers, and its consequences. These novels may be used in research integrity training as a method to evoke individual reflection or to inspire group discussion.