Chapter 1137 - 843: The Final Task

Because it’s bland, it leaves more room for imagination.

Bi Yanling felt the knife not only from Weng Pinting’s words but also from the eyes from all directions.

Bi Yanling gasped heavily.

However, for Bi Yanling, her nightmare wasn’t over yet.

...

"Regrettably, the problem with this paper itself is not an isolated case."

Weng Pinting turned to the next page.

This page had only one article, but it was densely marked, showing a comparison between a chart in Bi Yanling’s paper and the original experiment records.

On the left is the published line chart in the paper — four-time points on the horizontal axis, emotion scores on the vertical axis, four lines in different colors neatly aligned as expected, with very short error bars;

On the right is the drawing file from the college’s archived original experiment records under the same conditions — the same four-time points, but the data fluctuates more significantly, with longer error bars, and one line’s direction at the third time point is entirely opposite to what is shown in the paper.

"This is a paper published by Bi Yanling as the first author on the habituation effect of emotion regulation, openly published," Weng Pinting mentioned the name of a core journal in District One.

"Figure 3 in the paper displays the trend of emotional scores changes at four-time points under four experimental conditions. The data curves are smooth, the error bars uniform, and the trend direction consistent with the hypothesis." Weng Pinting turned to the next page, and a new view appeared on the projection screen, "This is a visualization file containing the same data from the college’s archived original experiment records. The actual value of one set of data points in the original data differs from the values in the paper, and the direction of the connection between the third and fourth time points in the original graph is opposite to what is shown in the paper."

"Furthermore, there is a substantial difference in the length of the error bars in multiple data points."

Weng Pinting paused for a moment, allowing the teachers below to clearly see the differences between the two images.

With Bi Yanling’s current level of cognitive activity, she could no longer analyze the two charts. However, when she used the last of her cognitive resources to see which article Weng Pinting had brought up, her expression changed dramatically.

Her body went from rock-hard to reef-like as sweat began to wet all her exposed skin.

"The mean direction of emotion scores at the third time point in the original records was downward, while it was upward at the corresponding time point in the paper. The length of the error bars in the original record was approximately two to three times longer than in the paper, indicating a significant discrepancy in data variability between the original records and the final publication."

"In the same article," Weng Pinting continued to turn pages, "Table 2 in the paper presents the statistical analysis results of multiple group means. I recalculated using the original data archived in the college according to the statistical methods described in the paper. The statistical values calculated from the original data were inconsistent with the values reported in the paper, and the differences exceeded the possible error range."

Weng Pinting paused again, giving the teachers present time to scrutinize the comparison chart before them, and also leaving an opening for Bi Yanling to speak.

The teachers indeed examined, but Bi Yanling still could not speak.

Weng Pinting concluded, "This indicates that there is inconsistency in the data in this paper — either the data recorded in the original records was not used, or the data in the paper was processed in some way. As for the specific handling method, it can be confirmed by comparing the original records with the published data."

Next to her, Teacher Waterpot set down his ever-present teacup slowly. He glanced at the deputy dean beside him, who, sitting in the center of the judging panel, assumed an extremely contradictory posture, his body leaning back forcefully while his neck unconsciously stretched forward.

After a long pause, the deputy dean let out a long sigh.

"It inevitably points to a result that is unfortunate for all of us — the authenticity of this paper is in doubt."

That is, in the conventional sense, academic fraud.

Buzz——

As Weng Pinting’s words fell, the students below no longer suppressed their exchanges or stifled their laughter but began to discuss without restraint.

Who would have thought that simply coming for a review of a project proposal would result in such a scene?

Some couldn’t resist taking out their phones to take pictures, and even called nearby classmates over to witness the commotion.

The deputy dean had no inclination to stop it, and Weng Pinting was pleased to see it happen. She turned to Bi Yanling: "Teacher Bi, can you explain?"

"For example, explain why the direction in the original chart is different from that in the published chart?"

"For example, explain why the length of the original error bar is different from that in the published chart?"

"Or, explain why the statistical values of the original data differ from those reported in the paper?"

"This paper was published not long ago, so you should be able to explain at least one?"

Bi Yanling couldn’t speak, only her rigid body began to tremble.

"Alright, then the only conclusion I can draw is this — after being lifted up by Mr. Chang, it seems you were trying to independently branch out."

"But clearly, you lack the ability to do so, which is why you needed additional ’supplement’ to support you."

Weng Pinting stated in a summarizing tone, "It seems that not only are you unqualified to sit here as a reviewing teacher, but you are also not qualified to sit in the office of the college as a teacher."