Responsible Science Ensuring the Integrity of the Research Process: Volume I (1992) / Chapter Skim
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6 STEPS TO ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE RESEARCH PRACTICES
6 STEPS TO ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE RESEARCH PRACTICES
Pages 128-144
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From page 128... ...
The challenge to research institutions is to aid faculty in establishing effective systems of values and social controls, to provide individuals with opportunities and incentives to develop and implement these systems, and to safeguard the traditions that foster scientific creativity. Institutional efforts to encourage responsible research practices have been stimulated by the following factors: · Growth and diversification of research, creating situations likely to be sources of increasing disputes about appropriate forms of re 128
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From page 129... ...
Although many advocate expansion of the research institution's role in fostering responsible research practices, othersoften individual faculty members have expressed caution based on the following assumptions: · Institutional efforts designed to foster integrity in the research environment may be misinterpreted as an admission that the system is not working well or that faculty are not exercising their responsibilities. · Institution-wide programs designed to encourage responsible research practices may weaken individual and departmental efforts to achieve the same goals.
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From page 130... ...
Regularly held graduate seminars, faculty colloquia, and informal discussions in the laboratory and the classroom can also provide opportunities to test perceptions of observed practices against the expected norms of science, can help all members of the research community to define and clarify the fundamental norms that guide research practice, can ameliorate misunderstandings that could escalate into unfounded accusations, and can stimulate open and frank consideration of conflicting values. Exploring a case of poor authorship practices in the context of a classroom discussion of questionable research practices, for example, might be less threatening to a
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From page 131... ...
. Cation In science; · Principles of data selection, management, and storage, including rights and responsibilities with respect to sharing and granting access to research data, and the special status of data that support published findings; · Publication practices, including the importance of timely and appropriate release of significant research findings and the harm that can result from premature or fragmentary publication of results or from publication in multiple forms; · Authorship practices, particularly criteria for and obligations of authorship and the proper allocation of credit for specialized contributions; and · Training and mentorship practices, including the responsibilities of supervision and the principles that guide collaboration between senior and junior personnel.
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From page 132... ...
Discussions of institutional policies should be explicit about appropriate channels for raising concerns when one witnesses misconduct in science, questionable research practices, or other misconduct. Such discussions may help prevent conflicts that can result from poor communication or poorly understood expectations about what behaviors constitute misconduct in science or questionable research practices.
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From page 133... ...
After a period of years, and when a significant number of schools have developed curricula on research ethics, it could be useful to review and to improve as necessary the quality of teaching and of the curriculum materials used for instruction in research ethics.5 Such a review could draw on the expertise and judgments of a consensus panel representing those engaged in ethics instruction as well as those who are respected scientists in the fields under study. CONSIDERING GUIDELINES FOR RESPONSIBLE RESEARCH PRACTICES Current Means for Providing Guidance Even though most research institutions do not have written guidelines for the conduct of research, their faculty usually act individually and
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From page 134... ...
written policies dealing with specific issues in the research environment, such as conflict of interest, intellectual property rights, use of humans and animals in experimentation, and computer used Most academic institutions that conduct significant amounts of research have also adopted policies and procedures for handling allegations of misconduct in science.9 The normative rules and monitoring requirements scattered throughout university policies and documents relating to science and engineering research are an important first step for promoting the responsible conduct of research. In defining what is illegal, unethical, and irresponsible, these rules suggest what is legal, ethical, and responsible.
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From page 135... ...
were not (Nobel, 1990~. Guidelines for the conduct of research differ from institutional policies that are designed to address misconduct in science or conflict of interest or that, in response to regulatory requirements, govern research involving human subjects, hazardous materials, or recombinant DNA.~i Research conduct guidelines are intended to promote responsible conduct of research and, to the extent that questionable practices and misconduct in science are linked, to reduce the amount
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From page 136... ...
Thus it may be wiser to have research conduct guidelines developed internally by faculty and research scientists who are most familiar with their own institutional research environment than to have them imposed by higher authorities to fulfill funding or regulatory requirements. Guidelines may help inform members of a research institution about what constitutes questionable practices or misconduct in science in an academic research environment.
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From page 137... ...
Some are concerned that focusing on guidelines diverts attention from the consideration of complex ethical issues and genuine dilemmas in the research environment. The concept of research guidelines cuts against faculty autonomy and other values associated with academic freedom as ideals of the academic environment.
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From page 138... ...
A FRAMEWORK OF SUBJECTS TO CONSIDER IN ENCOURAGING RESPONSIBLE RESEARCH PRACTICES The panel has identified a set of subjects that should be considered in any efforts aimed at developing educational discussions or guidelines for the conduct of scientific research. This set of subjects is not meant to be comprehensive but rather to suggest particular topics and examples of "best scientific practice" that should be considered in formulating statements on research conduct.
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From page 139... ...
An investigator may make copies of the primary data for his/her own use. (Harvard University Faculty of Medicine, 1988)
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From page 140... ...
The "Harvard University Faculty] committee considers the only reasonable criterion to be that the co-author has made a significant intellectual or practical contribution.
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From page 141... ...
. in peer review Conflicts of interest and need for disclosure in peer review of competitive proposals · Objectivity of peer reviews; inclusion of nonpublic information b.
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From page 142... ...
Although questionable research practices are not appropriate for treatment as incidents of misconduct in science, they require the sustained attention of scientists and responses by institutional officers when there is general agreement that specific practices are not to be tolerated. The panel points out that the methods for addressing questionable research practices should be different from those for handling misconduct in science or other misconduct.
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From page 143... ...
Recognizing that specific approaches may have important limitations, the panel nevertheless concludes that it is essential for scientists and research institutions to exercise a stronger role in providing an environment that encourages responsible research practices and also discourages misconduct in science. Irr considering different approaches to dealing with questionable research practices, the panel concluded that questionable practices are best discouraged through (1)
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From page 144... ...
consensus that, although the fundamental values and standards of the research community are appropriate, the expression and implementation of these standards are insufficient to promote responsible research practices in an increasingly large, heterogeneous, and competitive research environment. New and comprehensive guidelines should be developed by the research community to clarify traditional practices, to strengthen the mix of formal policies and informal practices currently in place, and to correct actions that seriously deviate from these standards.
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