What is research integrity?
Individual researcher
A US National Academies report
1 observed that, for the individual researcher, integrity embodies a range of good research practice and conduct. This includes:
- Intellectual honesty in proposing, performing, and reporting research.
- Accuracy in representing contributions to research proposals and reports.
- Fairness in peer review.
- Collegiality in scientific interactions, including communications and sharing of resources.
- Transparency in conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest.
- Protection of human subjects in the conduct of research.
- Humane care of animals in the conduct of research.
- Adherence to the mutual responsibilities between investigators and their research participants.
1National Research Council of the National Academies (2002). Integrity in Scientific Research: creating an environment that promotes responsible conduct. Washington: The National Academies Press.
Institutional level
For an institution, integrity is a commitment to creating an environment that promotes responsible conduct by embracing standards of excellence, trustworthiness, and lawfulness. The term 'Responsible Conduct of Research' (RCR) is often used by institutions to refer to a wide range of areas of research compliance, professional conduct, and personal responsibility. Ten core topics are typically covered:
- Data management
- Research misconduct
- Animal subjects
- Human participants in research
- Collaboration in research
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- Mentoring
- Peer review
- Publication & authorship
- Conflict of interest
- Health and safety
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Key University resources
At the University of Melbourne, this commitment to upholding the highest standards of conduct in research is formally expressed in various places, including: