Final answer:
It is true that one of the most common responses to fraud is disbelief. People's skepticism towards fraud arises from factors such as the improbability of events, lack of evidence, and inconsistency with established knowledge, as well as motivated reasoning.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the most common responses to fraud is disbelief, and this is true. When presented with claims of extraordinary events or outcomes, such as unsubstantiated miracles or unlikely scientific results, people often find these claims hard to accept. The skepticism can stem from a variety of reasons including the improbability of the event, lack of evidence, or inconsistency with established knowledge or experiences. Especially in scientific research, any form of statistical fraud can lead to significant mistrust and disbelief among scholars and the public. This skepticism is further fueled by the human tendency towards motivated reasoning, where individuals accept evidence that supports their beliefs and reject that which contradicts them.
Fraudulent activities, such as faking survey data or halting data collection prematurely can introduce bias and fundamentally weaken the integrity of research. Moreover, surveys often encounter issues such as inaccurate responses due to participants lying, forgetting, or attempting to present themselves in a positive light. These elements all contribute to a general disposition of disbelief when confronted with potentially fraudulent information or extraordinary claims without substantial proof.