Code of conduct Flashcards
What is research
the quest for knowledge obtained through systematic study and thinking, observation and experimentation.
where does research derive its status from?
it is a process governed by standards
five guiding principles in research
honesty, scrupulousness, transparency, independence, responsibility
three aims of the code of conduct
- educational and normative framework for people doing research.
- for executives boards a frame of reference when assessing alleged research misconduct.
- a number of duties of care for institutions.
Who is primarily responsible for adhering to good research practices?
researchers, supervisors, their institutions
To which activities does the code apply
-has very broad applications
all research activities, advice activities, applying for loans, preparing educational materials, treating subordinates with respect.
Which institutions are bound by the code?
it is binding by virtue of self-regulation,
Honesty
Honesty means, among other things, reporting the research process accurately, taking alternative opinions and counterarguments seriously, being open about margins of uncertainty, refraining from making unfounded claims, refraining from fabricating or falsifying data or sources and refraining from presenting results more favourably or unfavourably than they actually are
Scrupulousness
Scrupulousness means, among other things, using methods that are scientific or scholarly and exercising the best possible care in designing, undertaking, reporting and disseminating research.
Transparency
Transparency means, among other things, ensuring that it is clear to others what data the research was based on, how the data were obtained, what and how results were achieved and what role was played by external stakeholders. If parts of the research or data are not to be made public, the researcher must provide a good account of why this is not possible. It must be evident, at least to peers, how the research was conducted and what the various phases of the research process were. At the very least, this means that the line of reasoning must be clear and that the steps in the research process must be verifiable.
Independence
Independence means, among other things, not allowing the choice of method, the assessment of data, the weight attributed to alternative statements or the assessment of others’ research or research proposals to be guided by non-scientific or non-scholarly considerations (e.g., those of a commercial or political nature). In this sense, independence also includes impartiality. Independence is required at all times in the design, conduct and reporting of research, although not necessarily in the choice of research topic and research question.
Responsibility
Responsibility means, among other things, acknowledging the fact that a researcher does not operate in isolation and hence taking into consideration – within reasonable limits – the legitimate interests of human and animal test subjects, as well as those of commissioning parties, funding bodies and the environment. Responsibility also means conducting research that is scientifically and/or societally relevant.
