Which of the following is not true?

Which of the following is not true? (a) Misrepresenting and creating fraudulent data is dishonest

(b) Misrepresenting data is very easy to detect

(c) Misrepresenting data can be difficult to detect

(d) Breaking confidentiality is not a problem

✅ Correct option: (d) Breaking confidentiality is not a problem

Explanation:

Research ethics require honesty, integrity, and respect for participants. Breaking confidentiality is a serious ethical violation, not a minor issue. Therefore, option (d) is clearly false and is the correct answer to “which is not true.” Creating fraudulent data or misrepresenting findings is dishonest and violates scientific integrity, making option (a) true. Option (b) is misleading because while some data fabrication may be detected, it is not always easy to detect, especially in complex datasets. Option (c) is true because subtle forms of data manipulation can be very difficult to identify. Confidentiality breaches can harm participants psychologically, socially, or legally. For example, revealing sensitive personal or academic information can lead to stigma or discrimination. That is why ethical committees strictly enforce confidentiality rules. Thus, the incorrect (not true) statement is option (d).

10 Related PPSC Facts:

Data fabrication is unethical Honesty is core research value Some fraud is hard to detect Confidentiality protects participants Ethical breaches damage trust Research misconduct has penalties IRB monitors ethical compliance Plagiarism is unethical Data integrity is essential Ethics ensure research credibility