ABSTRACT
The conceptual approach of the authors suggests that culture can and does play a role in scholarly misconduct. Considering such a possibility can easily be misinterpreted as xenophobia or racism. This makes culture more difficult to address than other possible causal factors. But there is evidence to suggest that scholars moving from one culture to another may be guided by the cultural norms of their respective homelands rather than by the prevailing norms of their adopted country. This conflict of norms was postulated by sociologists long ago, and still has appeal. Other reasons culture can play a role is the emphasis some cultures place, for example, on the status of, and deference toward, mentors. Some cultures have only recently begun to grapple with the responsible conduct of research, and thus their systems of social control are not as well developed as those in the West.
