The general topic of this Ph.D. thesis regards "Questionable Research Practices" (QRPs) and their effect on the replicability crisis in psychology and social sciences. QRPs are a set of bad research practices carried out to increase the likelihood of obtaining a significant result by providing some sort of manipulation of collected data. QRPs are related to the so-called replicability crisis, defined as the inability to replicate the results of an increasing number of studies. The proposed dissertation focuses on a specific form of QRPs named "Questionable Interim Analysis" (QIA). QIA implies that the data collection stopping rule depends on the previous interim analysis result. While the effect of this practice on the growth of false positive results is well known, its impact on the replicability of studies is still unclear. Furthermore, an objective tool to assess the incidence of this practice in a single study is, to our knowledge, still missing. In this project, we tried to overcome these limitations by evaluating the effects of QRPs on replication success and by proposing a formal tool to resize and control the QIA effects on statistical results. This document begins with a brief overview on the replicability crisis, QRPs, and the methods for identifying these practices in the literature (Chapter 1). Chapter 2 introduces a methodology to clarify the effect of some QRPs (cherry picking, questionable interim analyses, questionable inclusion of covariates, and questionable subgroup analyses) on replicability and determinates which replication success metric performs better in presence of these practices. The results show that the metric based on the golden sceptical p-value maintains low values of false positive replication success when QRPs are assumed. Chapter 3 presents a new probabilistic model to identify the incidence of QIA practice in the literature. It provides information about the larger or lower probability of this practice by estimating the ratio between the probability that a published result was obtained on the basis of a QIA practice or, alternatively, by a standard data collection approach. In Chapter 4, we show an application of the probabilistic models in the context of simulation studies. In particular, we illustrate how the new proposal improves some widely used simulation approaches to assess the false positive results in the context of QIA practices. Finally, in Chapter 5 the proposed models are discussed in terms of their utilities, limitations, and possible future extensions.

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Yes / Based on an empirical investigation in the context of Romania, this paper identifies a moderating role of neutralization techniques within ethically questionable consumer behavior. The quantitative study is based upon a synthesized model of Theory of Planned Behavior incorporating the factor of perceived unfairness and neutralization techniques. Significantly, neutralization techniques are shown to have a negative, but definite impact on the action to behave unethically. This leads to their consideration as a process of thinking, rather than as static judgement. As such, neutralization techniques are conceptually distinctive to the other factors. The paper analyses the results specific to the Romanian context, but noting implications for an understanding of the morality of markets with similar historical, political and economic conditions. Overall, the findings offer a more nuanced reading of consumer behavior. The paper places moral flexibility in terms of a specific cultural context, but also reveals how neutralization techniques can moderate ethically questionable behaviors beyond matters of self-interest, which in turn has implications for how companies can consider their responsibilities in relation to their customers.

In this research, a model for ethically questionable decision-making is developed by amalgamating several decision-making theories. The variables of interest are the techniques of neutralization, perceived moral intensity, Machiavellianism, unethical intentions, and ethical judgment. Using a sample of 276 U.S. marketing professionals, partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to validate the model. Findings reveal that U.S. marketing professionals rationalize their ethically questionable intentions through their: (1) perception of moral intensity (i.e., minimizing the harms on others, perceiving their self-interest as most salient, and indifference to social consensus), (2) reliance on various neutralization techniques, and; (3) judgment of their ethically questionable intentions as ethical. After controlling for the Machiavellian personality trait, Machiavellianism did not have a profound effect on the decision-making process, which implies that marketers, in general, are capable of the cognitive distortions found in this study. The main contribution to knowledge is the synthesis of the techniques of neutralization and the perceived moral intensity construct. Through this amalgamation, knowledge of the intermediary steps in the decision-making process has emerged. A contribution to knowledge involves testing the relationship between Machiavellianism and unethical intentions through the mediating variable of the techniques of neutralization. Through this investigation, it was found that the Machiavellian personality is inconsequential to the decision-making process. As a contribution to managerial knowledge, it was found that through cognitive distortions, marketers are capable of various illicit behaviours, which have been shown to be costly to not only stakeholders, but also to the profitability and reputations of organisations.

In this research, a model for ethically questionable decision-making is developed by amalgamating several decision-making theories. The variables of interest are the techniques of neutralization, perceived moral intensity, Machiavellianism, unethical intentions, and ethical judgment. Using a sample of 276 U.S. marketing professionals, partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to validate the model. Findings reveal that U.S. marketing professionals rationalize their ethically questionable intentions through their: (1) perception of moral intensity (i.e., minimizing the harms on others, perceiving their self-interest as most salient, and indifference to social consensus), (2) reliance on various neutralization techniques, and; (3) judgment of their ethically questionable intentions as ethical. After controlling for the Machiavellian personality trait, Machiavellianism did not have a profound effect on the decision-making process, which implies that marketers, in general, are capable of the cognitive distortions found in this study. The main contribution to knowledge is the synthesis of the techniques of neutralization and the perceived moral intensity construct. Through this amalgamation, knowledge of the intermediary steps in the decision-making process has emerged. A contribution to knowledge involves testing the relationship between Machiavellianism and unethical intentions through the mediating variable of the techniques of neutralization. Through this investigation, it was found that the Machiavellian personality is inconsequential to the decision-making process. As a contribution to managerial knowledge, it was found that through cognitive distortions, marketers are capable of various illicit behaviours, which have been shown to be costly to not only stakeholders, but also to the profitability and reputations of organisations.

The development of social media has increased the usage and prevalence of content marketing. This have enhanced the pressures on marketers to manage and leverage this tool. Also, consumers interaction with valuable content leads to a stronger relationship with the brand which further might enhance the brand image. Hence, this paper carries out a quantitative research with the purpose to explain if questionable content marketing on social media have a negative impact on brand image. The researchers used questionnaires as their method for collection of empirical data. The respondents were gathered based on a convenience sampling. The questionnaires were out sent out to 204 participants, were the aim was to investigate if the respondents view of a brand changes negatively, after being exposed to scenarios that were constituted by questionable content marketing. It was analyzed through an ANOVA test. The overall conclusions after gathering and analyzing the data, implicate that questionable content marketing have a negative effect on brand image. Therefore, it becomes important for managers to carefully evaluate their content marketing strategy on social media in order to avoid questionable content marketing.

Current practices in study design and data analysis have led to low reproducibility and replicability of findings in fields such as psychology, medicine, biology, and economics. Because gifted education research relies on the same underlying statistical and sociological paradigms, it is likely that it too suffers from these problems. This article discusses the origin of the poor replicability and introduces a set of open science practices that can increase the rigor and trustworthiness of gifted education’s scientific findings: preregistration, open data and open materials, registered reports, and preprints. Readers are directed to Internet resources for facilitating open science. To model these practices, a pre peer-review preprint of this article is available at https://psyarxiv.com/nhuv3/.

Projektet riktar sig mot ett företag som är verksamma inom förpackningsindustrin med behandling och hållbarhet av papper. Operatörerna på anläggningen arbetar med att applicera plastbeläggning på papper för att göra det mer resistent mot vätska. När pappersrullar erhåller ett mindre vanligt produktionsfel utan tydlig åtgärd, finns en felhantering som kallas för ''tveksam bedömning'' (TVB). Hanteringen av TVB:er har tidigare bestått av mycket manuell hantering, vilket är ineffektivt, tidskrävande och otydligt som i sin tur kan leda till missförstånd. För att förbättra felhanteringen har ett befintligt program, som företaget använder sedan tidigare, vidareutvecklats för att kunna rapportera TVB:er och även kunna spåra tidigare TVB:er. Syftet med projektet är att förenkla processen för hanteringen av TVB:er samt minimera och underlätta arbetet för operatörerna. Genom att automatisera hur och var information sparas, samt koppla det till ett lättanvänt användargränssnitt, förenklas proceduren och minimerar arbetet för operatörerna. / This project targets a company that are operative within treatment and durability of paper in the packaging industry. At their facility, the production consists of applying plastic coating on the paper to make it more resistant to liquids, as the final product is intended as a container for liquid, e.g. milk. When paper rolls have a less common or more difficult error, there is an error handling procedure called ''questionable assessment''. This procedure consists of much manual handling which is ineffective, time consuming and inexplicit, which can lead to misunderstanding. To improve the error handling, an existing program that the company uses, will be further developed to manage error reports and to track earlier error reports. The purpose of the project is to simplify the process and minimize the workload for the staff. By automating how and where the information is stored as well as connecting it to a user-friendly interface, it will improve the procedure and minimize the work needed by the staff.

本研究係針對會計師及會計系學生之不當學習行為是否會影響其日後對一般工作不道德行為與審計專業不道德行為之認知與意圖進行探討，並試圖瞭解兩者形成從事審計專業不道德行為意圖之考慮因素。 本研究係以問卷方式蒐集資料，其中，會計師樣本係從台北市會計師公會登錄之會計師進行隨機選取，學生樣本則係從北部四所大學會計系四年級學生為對象進行問卷調查。研究結果顯示： 一、 會計師相對於會計系學生而言，較能確定不會從事審計不道德行為，且對於不當學習行為之認知亦較學生嚴重。 二、 會計師與會計系學生若認為他人亦有從事審計不道德行為之意圖時，就愈有可能從事該審計不道德行為；且不論是會計師或是會計系學生，曾經做過愈多不當學習行為者，就愈可能存有從事審計不道德行為之意圖。 三、 對於不當學習行為認知愈不嚴重之會計師，對於一般工作不道德行為之認知亦愈不嚴重；而對不當學習行為的認知愈不嚴重之會計系學生，對於一般工作不道德行為或是對審計專業不道德行為之認知亦愈不嚴重。 / This research was aimed to examine relationship among academic misconduct, improper business practice and morally questionable behavior in auditing of CPAs and auditing students. In addition, this research also examined the factors affecting the intention of CPAs and auditing students to behave unethically in auditing. The data were collected by questionnaires. The CPA samples were chosen randomly from CPAs registered in the CPA Association of Taipei City and the student samples were auditing students from four universities in northern Taiwan. Empirical results were summarized as follows: 1. CPAs appeared more certain about refraining from morally questionable behavior in auditing and perceived academic misconduct more seriously than auditing students. 2. When CPAs or auditing students deemed that others would breach ethics in auditing, they appeared to be more prone to do the same. Besides, if they had committed academic misconduct previously, it was more likely for them to choose morally questionable behavior in auditing. 3. CPAs who took academic misconduct less seriously perceived improper business practice less seriously. Auditing students who took academic misconduct less seriously perceived improper business practice and morally questionable behavior in auditing less seriously.