Research Ethics and Integrity
The College of Science and Engineering undertakes a wide range of research and consultancy work. At one end this covers research with human subjects (surveys, questionnaires, laboratory experiments), through clinically-related research on humans or human-derived tissue, and animals, to fundamental research in the fields of evolution, mathematics, informatics, chemistry, physics, astronomy and engineering.
Experimentation upon human subjects, human tissue (particularly stem cells), and animals is undertaken with strict adherence to the ethical principles laid down in the codes of practice referred to below and overseen by the appropriate research ethics committees. In addition, each School in the College has a member of staff who, with the Head of School, is available for dealing with the ethical issues that may arise from time to time.
In practice, the vast majority of the College's research does not raise ethical requirements that are not handled by the standard disclaimers signed by both Principal Investigator and Head of School. However, in some instances there is a need for ethical oversight and approval of specific research projects and several Schools in the College have instituted Research Committees to deal with these instances (including the School of Geosciences and School of Informatics). For those who do not have access to a School Ethical Committee, but where ethical issues do arise, they are dealt with on an ad hoc basis through the procedures (see link below) for the College agreed by the University Research Ethics Committee in 2004. Annual reports are prepared by the Schools and forwarded via the College to the University Committee.
School Specific Ethics Procedures
- School of Biological Sciences Ethics Procedure
- School of Chemistry Ethics Procedure
- School of Engineering Ethics Procedure
- School of GeoSciences Ethics Procedure
- School of Informatics Ethics Procedure
- School of Mathematics Ethics Procedure
- School of Physics & Astronomy Ethics Procedure
Research Integrity
There is the expectation that the research community maintains "the highest possible standards in the conduct of research ... [by ensuring] ... that all those engaged with research:
- underpin their work with common values of rigour and integrity
- conform to all legal, professional and ethical obligations
- strive to create an environment based on best practice
- support the development and application of robust processes to deal with allegations on misconduct
- play an active role in an ongoing process to strengthen the integrity of research"
The above text is from the draft 'Concordat to Support Research Integrity' that is currently under discussion externally:
As well as the familiar issues like plagiarism, data forgery and harm to participants, more contemporary issues where there are integrity risks include: digital image manipulation, inappropriate use of project funding, pressure from funders about research conclusions, how to relate to colleagues with hypothesised lower standards of ethics, authorship on papers, gratuitous citation agreements, multiple publication of the same result, open data/access, confidentiality of ideas encountered during proposal and paper review, etc.
The UK Research Integrity Office provides expert advice and guidance about the conduct of research.
Further information:
- Procedures for ethical review and approval of research
- Appendix to procedures
- UKRIO Code of Practice for Research
- The University policy on Whistleblowing
- Global Research Ethics and Integrity
This article was published on Sep 18, 2012