According to the U.S. Federal Research Misconduct Policy, what does fabrication entail?

Fabrication involves the intentional creation of data or results that are not based on actual research or experimentation, and then recording or presenting this fabricated information as if it were authentic. This definition aligns with the understanding that the integrity of research relies on accurately reporting findings, and fabrication directly undermines this principle. When researchers engage in this practice, they contribute to scientific misinformation, which can have far-reaching consequences on knowledge advancement, public trust, and policy decisions.

The other options refer to different types of research misconduct or errors. Altering data to fit desired outcomes suggests manipulation, misrepresenting contributions pertains to plagiarism or ethical citation issues, and accidentally omitting data suggests an unintentional oversight or error in reporting rather than a deliberate act of fabrication. Each of these behaviors can compromise research integrity but does not align with the specific definition of fabrication as stipulated in the U.S. Federal Research Misconduct Policy.