Rice University. Research misconduct may include the fabrication/ falsification of data, plagiarism, or other practices that seriously deviate from those that are commonly accepted within the scientific community for proposing, conducting, reviewing, or reporting research. It also encompasses the failure to comply with federal requirements for protecting researchers, human and animal subjects, and the public. In general, gross negligence of research standards and any action taken with the intent to defraud are considered forms of research misconduct. It does not, however, include honest error or honest differences in interpreting or judging data. (Link)

University of New Mexico. A researcher commits research misconduct under UNM’s policy if he or she fabricates or falsifies data or research results or plagiarizes another person’s ideas or work. Research misconduct also occurs if a researcher wantonly disregards truth or objectivity or fails to comply or attempt to comply with legal requirements governing the research; however, other University policies and procedures will be followed in resolving such cases. It is important to understand that research misconduct is not a mistake in reasoning, disagreeing with recognized authorities, misinterpreting results, an error in planning or carrying out an experiment, or an oversight in attribution.(PDF)