Is fabricating data worse than fabricating results? Is failing to correct a known false report more or less serious than making the false report in the first place?

Andy King writes: I have a question for you–and, if you think it worthwhile, for your readers. A few weeks ago, I was deposed by Harvard’s lawyers in the lawsuit between Francesca Gino and Harvard. Much of the questioning focused on my replications of research by Harvard Business School professor George Serafeim and my allegations of research misconduct against him and his coauthors. That experience has led to a lively online debate about two questions: 1. Is fabricating data worse than fabricating results? 2. Is failing to correct a known false report more or less serious than making the false report in the first place? At the moment, my own thinking is this: 1. Both fabricating data and fabricating results mislead readers. They are simply different paths to the same outcome and thus similarly serious. 2. Failing to correct a false report–once the authors know it is false and material–may actually be more serious. It suggests a conscious decision to leave readers with a claim the…