QUESTION 11 OF 29

What would you do if a colleague asked you to manipulate data and/or documentation?

It is never acceptable to manipulate data, so the interviewer is likely interested in a couple of things: 1) whether or not you lead with integrity and denounce the manipulation of data and documents, and 2) how you respond to a complex scenario involving ethics and legal issues. When responding to this question, be sure to clearly state your position on data integrity.

"I have never manipulated data nor is there a time when it would be considered acceptable. Data integrity is important to me and the field as a whole. Good science comes from good, honest data."

Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.

Anonymous Answer

There are lines I will not cross. The examples here actually have different potential implications or degrees of severity, and to different people, these might not be mutually exclusive. Regardless, my decision stays the same. To make the question even more interesting, what if a friend, or worse, a friend and a supervisor, asked for data manipulation? In my case, I've lost both.

Amanda's Feedback

Ethical behavior in the workplace is valued by all employers. You can strengthen this response by more emphatically stating that you would not manipulate data or documentation no matter who asked you to. In addition, talking about why this is an ethical line you won't cross would give the interviewer clearer insight into your personality and character.

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Medical Writer Mock Interview

What would you do if a colleague asked you to manipulate data and/or documentation?

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29 Medical Writer Interview Questions & Answers