Data Fabrication

- This idiom refers to faking authors for their research findings.
- It could happen when authors have intention of fabricating research data and then providing a not true impression.
- E.g. making up images by adding or neglecting some data point from plotted figures, by changing graphs or charts, by omitting outliers, or by canceling inappropriate results, etc.
- Some authors try to enhance the suitability of images for reading by using a number of known techniques where they may increase or decrease the brightness, adjust color balance, etc. This process could not called fabrication when it is applied for the whole image, and not for some parts of it. Anyway, in case those modifications are performed on images, then the journal editor should be informed upon submission time by adding a note to the paper cover.
- Unaccepted making up techniques include improving, removing, obfuscating, and/or adding new elements or parts into images.
- Authors may be asked to submit their research original data, in case their images and/or data are doubted.