2/12/24, 5:15 PM Business Insider Mail - Dan Ariely reporting - investigation details, sources, etc

Kate Taylor <ktaylor@insider.com>

Dan Ariely reporting - investigation details, sources, etc

10 messages

Debora Lima <debora@senseiadvisory.com> Thu, Jan 25, 2024 at 9:13 PM

To: Kate Taylor <ktaylor@businessinsider.com>
Cc: Melissa Musiker <Melissa.Musiker@gmail.com>

Hi Kate!

Below are the names and contact information for folks you could reach out to for your reporting. Let me know if you have
trouble reaching anyone.

Additionally, sharing details on the Duke investigation, prefaced by a statement attributable to Dan, and some points of
clarification from the interview, now that I've had a chance to read through my notes.

Let me know if you need anything else.

Investigation

“Duke’s investigation found no evidence to show I was responsible for data falsification or knowingly used falsified data in
relation to the 2012 PNAS paper. Duke’s findings are that the data were indeed falsified, and that I should have more
thoroughly vetted the data and more diligently stored records about the data. In short, the investigation found there was
more I could have done to prevent falsified data from being published.

At the time, my four co-authors in this paper and I felt we had done the necessary amount of due diligence to reach the
consensus that the data were acceptable for publication. Hindsight is 20/20, and looking back, I agree that I could’ve done
more.

My disability has historically prevented me from personally analyzing and validating data, and as a result, people who
work with me frequently take the lead on these responsibilities. Assuming this would be the case with the data for the
2012 paper – my first ever field study – was a mistake. The data falsification would have been detected by the advanced
algorithms, tools, and systems that are commonplace today in social sciences, and in my lab. Unfortunately, these data
were collected and reported almost 20 years ago, using handwritten responses whose collection I did not oversee.

In the absence of clear evidence of who falsified the data set, I understand why I was an easy target for those looking to
assign blame. I appreciate the irony of being accused of dishonesty as someone who has spent many years studying
dishonesty. But I was not dishonest. I’m grateful to Duke for their efforts to shed light on this matter. I’m looking forward to
resuming my work.” - Dan Ariely

Duke University Investigation Findings

The final determination of the Duke University investigation of alleged research misconduct by Dr. Dan Ariely finds that Dr.
Ariely was responsible for two acts of' research misconduct’:

For the inclusion falsified Time 1 odometers readings in Experiment 3 of the 2012 PNAS publication
For the inclusion falsified Time 2 odometers readings in Experiment 3 of the 2012 PNAS publication

Interview points

When Dan was talking about facing two waves of accusations, he later mentioned receiving death threats. They
were from COVID conspiracy theorists.
Dan mentioned that he has largely outsourced data analysis to his research assistants since 2002 or 2003. I can
double check the exact year, but it's safe to say he began relying on others for this task more than 20 years ago.
You asked Dan about what he thinks his mistakes were, as it relates to the circumstances that led up to the 2012
paper publishing falsified data. Dan said "I wasn't as involved as I should've been" – he was asked not to be
directly involved because of IRB provisions. (He'd be happy to elaborate on that.)

Sources

Janet Schwartz, executive director of the Center for Advanced Hindsight - need to follow up with Dan on Janet's
email address
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=06869f1ca8&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1789117337271121027&simpl=msg-f:1789117337271121027&simpl=… 1/3
2/12/24, 5:15 PM Business Insider Mail - Dan Ariely reporting - investigation details, sources, etc
Mark Goffman, executive producer of 'The Irrational' - markgoffman@gmail.com
Adi Altshuler, founder and CEO of the Inclu School System (based in Israel) - adi@inclu.org.il
Guillermo Sapiro, Duke professor/electrical engineer who leads a key division at Apple -
guillermo.sapiro@gmail.com
Evelyn Stark, former leader of Financial Health at MetLife Foundation (sponsor of the Center for Advanced
Hindsight) - evelynjstark@gmail.com
Jeff Kreisler, behavioral science @ JP Morgan - jeffkreisler@gmail.com
Oran Huberman, CEO of Kayma, a company that worked with the Israeli government on behavioral economics
projects (based in Israel) - oran@kayma.com
--
Debora Lima
Media Director, Sensei Advisory
Cell: +1 786.797.8540

Austin | NYC | LA | Miami | London | São Paulo | Hamburg | Dubai

Kate Taylor <ktaylor@businessinsider.com> Thu, Jan 25, 2024 at 9:21 PM

To: Debora Lima <debora@senseiadvisory.com>
Cc: Melissa Musiker <Melissa.Musiker@gmail.com>

Thank you! Will start reaching out to people tomorrow. And, with these investigation findings — did these come with any
consequences/repercussions?
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Debora Lima <debora@senseiadvisory.com> Mon, Jan 29, 2024 at 1:11 PM

To: Kate Taylor <ktaylor@businessinsider.com>
Cc: Melissa Musiker <Melissa.Musiker@gmail.com>

Yes but the details aren't final. Can provide context if you'd want to jump on the phone later today or tomorrow?
[Quoted text hidden]

Kate Taylor <ktaylor@businessinsider.com> Mon, Jan 29, 2024 at 1:28 PM

To: Debora Lima <debora@senseiadvisory.com>
Cc: Melissa Musiker <Melissa.Musiker@gmail.com>

Let's jump on the phone tomorrow! Also, wanted to check if you could send along the most recent Annual Report for the
Center For Advanced Hindsight — the website hasn't uploaded the last few years. Thank you!
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Debora Lima <debora@senseiadvisory.com> Tue, Jan 30, 2024 at 5:43 PM

To: Kate Taylor <ktaylor@businessinsider.com>
Cc: Melissa Musiker <Melissa.Musiker@gmail.com>

Hi there! My schedule got blown to pieces today because of a personal emergency, and I just realized I didn't get back to
you with a time for us to talk. Are you free tomorrow morning? I can chat between 9 and 10 am ET, or from 2-4 pm ET.

I did reach out to Dan to ask about the report, and he said COVID paused that process and the team just never really got
around to compiling reports again – hence the outdated website. Is there anything in particular about their work I can get
you information on?

Also, here is Janet Schwartz' email address: janet.schwartz@duke.edu

[Quoted text hidden]

Kate Taylor <ktaylor@businessinsider.com> Tue, Jan 30, 2024 at 9:29 PM

To: Debora Lima <debora@senseiadvisory.com>
Cc: Melissa Musiker <Melissa.Musiker@gmail.com>

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=06869f1ca8&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1789117337271121027&simpl=msg-f:1789117337271121027&simpl=… 2/3
2/12/24, 5:15 PM Business Insider Mail - Dan Ariely reporting - investigation details, sources, etc

No worries! 9am EST tomorrow works for me — want to give me a call then? And was just looking for stats on
funding/how many people are involved (but won't ask you to chase down answers until I have more specific asks!)
[Quoted text hidden]

Debora Lima <debora@senseiadvisory.com> Wed, Jan 31, 2024 at 8:54 AM

To: Kate Taylor <ktaylor@businessinsider.com>
Cc: Melissa Musiker <Melissa.Musiker@gmail.com>

Okay, gotcha. Yeah keep me posted. And yes i'm on my cell - chat soon!

Debora Lima
Media Director, Sensei Advisory
Cell: +1 786.797.8540

Austin | NYC | LA | Miami | London | São Paulo | Hamburg | Dubai

[Quoted text hidden]

Kate Taylor <ktaylor@businessinsider.com> Fri, Feb 2, 2024 at 3:50 PM

To: Debora Lima <debora@senseiadvisory.com>
Cc: Melissa Musiker <Melissa.Musiker@gmail.com>

Hey! Just wanted to check in and see if Dan would have time for a 30-minute Zoom next week — thank you!
[Quoted text hidden]

Debora Lima <debora@senseiadvisory.com> Fri, Feb 2, 2024 at 5:30 PM

To: Kate Taylor <ktaylor@businessinsider.com>
Cc: Melissa Musiker <Melissa.Musiker@gmail.com>

Hi! Dan flew back to Israel Wednesday and I haven't been able to pin down a time for next week but will have options for
you Monday as early as possible! Will hopefully have heard from his attorney by early next week too.

Thank you so much for your patience.

Debora Lima
Media Director, Sensei Advisory
Cell: +1 786.797.8540

Austin | NYC | LA | Miami | London | São Paulo | Hamburg | Dubai

[Quoted text hidden]

Kate Taylor <ktaylor@businessinsider.com> Fri, Feb 2, 2024 at 5:36 PM

To: Debora Lima <debora@senseiadvisory.com>
Cc: Melissa Musiker <Melissa.Musiker@gmail.com>

Perfect, thank you!

[Quoted text hidden]

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=06869f1ca8&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1789117337271121027&simpl=msg-f:1789117337271121027&simpl=… 3/3