Harvard sues ex-HBS professor over data fraud as defamation battle unfolds

Harvard has filed a defamation lawsuit against former Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino, alleging she manipulated research data to appear innocent of earlier misconduct, according to the Harvard Crimson. The University claims Gino sent a falsified spreadsheet backdated to 2010 to suggest another researcher had provided incorrect data, rather than admitting to altering it herself.

The fall from grace

Gino, who gained prominence for her work on 'honesty', was first accused in 2021 of manipulating data in four studies. Harvard placed her on administrative leave in 2023 following an internal investigation that determined she committed research misconduct, and later revoked her tenure. Since August 2023, Gino has fought back in court, alleging defamation, a flawed tenure process, and sex-based discrimination under Title IX and Title VII.

Harvard strikes back

In its counterclaim filed on August 18, Harvard argued that Gino fabricated evidence, claiming she invented exonerating data “out of thin air,” according to court filings obtained by the Harvard Crimson. The University is seeking damages, citing reputational and economic harm caused by Gino’s statements.

The disputed dataset

The controversy centers on a 2010 study in which participants filled out tax forms and signed at different points on the page. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study concluded that participants who signed at the top were more likely to be honest.

But external researchers and an HBS investigation concluded the dataset used in the publication was likely altered and could not reproduce the reported results.When Harvard investigated, it found multiple versions of the data on Gino’s laptops, including a “July 16 OG file” Gino later claimed would prove her innocence. Harvard alleges she backdated another version to 2010 to mislead investigators, a charge Gino denies, according to the Harvard Crimson.

Claims and counterclaims

Gino maintains she discovered a file showing her innocence and did not know whether Harvard reviewed it, asking the judge to dismiss the counterclaim. Harvard, meanwhile, contends that Gino’s actions damaged trust in the school’s research integrity processes. “She impugned and discredited members of the Investigation Committee, eroded internal trust, and damaged external confidence in Harvard processes,” the University wrote, according to the Harvard Crimson.

Support and skepticism

Some faculty have publicly supported Gino. In October 2023, seven HBS professors wrote anonymously in the Harvard Crimson arguing Harvard “violated its norms” and restricted Gino’s ability to defend herself. Two professors later submitted declarations backing her claims, highlighting concerns about Harvard’s investigation process.

High stakes in academic integrity

The case shines a light on the complexities of research misconduct investigations at elite institutions, and the fine line between defending one’s work and misleading the public. With claims and counterclaims continuing to unfold, the legal battle over Gino’s alleged data fraud is far from over.