Harvard ‘honesty’ researcher fired over fraud allegations

(Daily Caller News Foundation) – Harvard University has reportedly fired a professor known for researching honesty and ethics due to fraud allegations, while also stripping her of tenure in a potentially unprecedented move.

Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino, who studies honesty and ethical behavior, was let go from her position at the university after a several-year battle over accusations that she fabricated data in multiple studies, according to The Harvard Crimson. A Harvard spokesman confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation that Gino’s tenure was revoked but did not offer further comment.

Harvard is not known to have ever revoked a professor’s tenure since formal rules protecting the system were established in the 1940s, according to the Crimson.

Gino’s work first came under scrutiny in 2021, leading Harvard to launch a formal investigation after an independent analysis group found at least four of Gino’s studies contained manipulated data, according to WGBH. Per the Crimson, one of the studies that claimed to prove signing an honesty declaration at the beginning of a form rather than at the end made people less likely to lie was widely used by companies and even government agencies.

The Crimson also reports that the former professor was one of the highest-paid employees at the university, making more than $1 million annually.

Gino was placed on unpaid administrative leave after Harvard found evidence to support the fraud claims against her. Gino asserted she “absolutely did not commit academic fraud” and filed a defamation lawsuit against the school, which she lost.

An internal investigation by the Harvard Business School found Gino guilty of misconduct and recommended her termination in 2024.

Harvard previously faced similar issues with academic fraud when former university president Claudine Gay was accused of numerous instances of plagiarism in her academic work, which later led to her resignation.

Gino did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.