On some level he had to know he someone might find out as he didn't just use 1 paper but 4 different papers making it a little easier to find something wrong with his findings. This also explains why somehow he was able to settle rather than just receiving the punishment the University decided.

Virtue ethics suggests Alexander valued money or the grants more the research. His false findings allowed the funds to continue to be granted lacking any case for his character how this may make him look.