A European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity

Author(s):  
Pieter J. D. Drenth
2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 93-93
Author(s):  
Giulia Inguaggiato ◽  
◽  
Nathalie Evans ◽  
Margreet Stolper ◽  
Bert Molewijk ◽  
...  

"Promoting research integrity is crucial to achieve high quality and relevant results, and preserve public trust in science. In recent years, many codes of conducts, guidelines and regulations on national and international level, such as the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, have been issued to tackle this issue. However, these documents are often perceived as an externally imposed set of rules that researchers need to comply with in order to tick the box of integrity and get their research done. These research integrity efforts are important, but are they enough? We argue that in order to foster ‘good’ science, educating ‘good’ researchers is crucial. To respond to these issues, the VIRT2UE project has created an open source online training for researchers and educators that supports the internalization of the practices and principles of good science by building upon a virtue-based approach. Core elements of this approach are reflections on the intrinsic motivation of researchers and the cultivation of those moral characters which support the practices and principles of good science. The VIRT2UE training consists of a toolbox with training materials which can be used both online and offline, easy to use and adaptable to context. Starting from the assumption that virtues are learned through experience and by example, we will show what role trainers and educators can play in promoting a virtue-based approach to research integrity and what this implies for their own education and professionalization as trainers. "


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Evans ◽  
Ana Marusic ◽  
Nicole Foeger ◽  
Erika Lofstrom ◽  
Marc van Hoof ◽  
...  

Background: Recognising the importance of addressing ethics and research integrity (ERI) in Europe, in 2017, the All European Academies (ALLEA) published a revised and updated European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ECoC). Consistent application of the ECoC by researchers across Europe will require its widespread dissemination, as well as an innovative training programme and novel tools to enable researchers to truly uphold and internalise the principles and practices listed in the Code. Aim: VIRT2UE aims to develop a sustainable train-the-trainer blended learning programme enabling contextualised ERI teaching across Europe focusing on understanding and upholding the principles and practices of the ECoC. Vision: The VIRT2UE project recognises that researchers not only need to have knowledge of the ECoC, but also to be able to truly uphold and internalise the principles underpinning the code. They need to learn how to integrate them into their everyday practice and understand how to act in concrete situations. VIRT2UE addresses this challenge by providing ERI trainers and researchers with an innovative blended (i.e. combined online and off-line approaches) learning programme that draws on a toolbox of educational resources and incorporates an e-learning course (including a YouTube channel) and face-to-face sessions designed to foster moral virtues. ERI trainers and researchers from academia and industry will have open access to online teaching material. Moreover, ERI trainers will learn how to facilitate face-to-face sessions of researchers, which focus on learning how to apply the content of the teaching material to concrete situations in daily practice. Objectives: VIRT2UE’s work packages (WP) will: conduct a conceptual mapping amongst stakeholders to identify and rank the virtues which are essential for good scientific practice and their relationship to the principles and practices of the ECoC (WP1); identify and consult ERI trainers and the wider scientific community to understand existing capacity and deficiencies in ERI educational resources (WP2); develop the face-to-face component of the train-the-trainer programme which provides trainers with tools to foster researchers’ virtues and promote the ECoC and iteratively develop the programme based on evaluations (WP3); produce educational materials for online learning by researchers and trainers (WP4); implement and disseminate the train-the-trainer programme across Europe, ensuring the training of sufficient trainers for each country and build capacity and consistency by focusing on underdeveloped regions and unifying fragmented efforts (WP5); and develop the online training platform and user interface, which will be instrumental in evaluation of trainers’ and researchers’ needs and project sustainability (WP6). Impact: The VIRT2UE training programme will promote consistent application of the ECoC across Europe. The programme will affect behaviour on the individual level of trainers and researchers – simultaneously developing an understanding of the ECoC and other ERI issues, whilst also developing scientific virtues, enabling the application of the acquired knowledge to concrete situations and complex moral dilemmas. Through a dedicated embedding strategy, the programme will also have an impact on an institutional level. The train-the-trainer approach multiplies the impact of the programme by reaching current and future European ERI trainers and, subsequently, the researchers they train.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary Claire Hastings ◽  
Krishma Labib ◽  
Iris Lechner ◽  
Lex Bouter ◽  
Guy Widdershoven ◽  
...  

There is little research on how guidance provided in the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ALLEA code) compares with recommendations developed by European discipline-specific learned societies. We identified, and conducted a content analysis of, 58 guideline documents from 245 societies. Less than 25% of societies in any discipline provide guidance and there are notable disciplinary differences. Recommendations not reflected in the ALLEA code relate primarily to research culture and environment. Medical and Health Sciences societies often focus on regulatory and procedural aspects of research, whereas Natural Sciences societies emphasize the importance of accurate and appropriate dissemination of results. Humanities and Social Sciences societies’ recommendations are more heterogenous and relate to the nature of specific sub-disciplines. Our results reflect differences in epistemological approaches as well as the specific role and responsibilities of societies as membership organizations. We recommend that societies develop, or endorse, appropriate research integrity guidance.


Energies ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Avgerinou ◽  
Paolo Bertoldi ◽  
Luca Castellazzi

Author(s):  
Ebikaboere Ovia

Ethics is the study of man's internalization of his understanding of terms such as value, dignity, integrity, fairness, justice, and care among others. These terms are relevant to man in his private as well as public life, in official and unofficial settings. Man must realize that he interacts with others either on one-on-one basis or through other materials, which include recorded voice, written documents, speeches made, interviews granted, and the like. He must take cognizance of his sense of morality therefore or become immoral, that is using people solely to achieve his purpose, or worse still degenerate to being amoral. Where a researcher is indifferent to the impact of his work on others, his research base or benefactors, he is an egoist. In order to assist the researcher, journalist, teacher, etc. every organization, institute, corporation, etc. must have laid down rules generally referred to as “code of conduct.” These must be binding on all members, serving as a guide to members' behaviors in their day-to-day interactions.


Author(s):  
Natasja M. Klioueva ◽  
Marleen C. Rademaker ◽  
Inge Huitinga

2010 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieter J. D. Drenth

The following is a slightly revised version of a lecture presented at the RIA/IUA/HRB workshop ‘Research Integrity: Promoting and Building Trust’ at the Royal Irish Academy of Sciences, Dublin, on 24 September 2009. Various thoughts and arguments presented in this paper are also discussed in the advisory report of Working Group 2 (Code of Conduct) to the ESF Member Forum on Research Integrity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  

Abstract Background The 1954 Nobel Laureate for physics Max Born said: “There is no philosophical high-road in science, with epistemological signposts. No, we are in a jungle and find our way by trial and error, building our roads behind us as we proceed. We do not find sign-posts at cross-roads, but our own scouts erect them, to help the rest.” Science is a quest with many uncertainties. Society demands from scientists that they pursue this quest in an responsible way. Responsible conduct in science (RCR) is/ought to be on every researchers' agenda. The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (https://allea.org/code-of-conduct/) for example is the reference document for research integrity for all EU-funded research projects and as a model for organisations and researchers across Europe. RCR however is not only about referring to a code, it is also about acting on it, and raising awareness. Education is pivotal. Two pitfalls definitely need to be avoided in teaching RCR: 1. making it a highly theoretical endeavor that in most cases will not result in the internalization of the principles of RCR; 2. limiting the teaching to a small staff, thus not involving a large group of researchers as role models. Therefore, it is necessary to design RCR courses in which students feel challenged to discover the underlying principles and moral issues in responsible research themselves whilst at the same time sharing this discovery with their role models. For senior researchers (role models, teachers) the challenge is not to impose rules and regulations but to foster an environment in which junior researchers feel free to discuss the decisions and questions they have in upholding principles of responsible research. Very often, senior researchers are unaware of the dilemma's young researchers encounter. Consequently, courses in RCR can remain highly theoretical. Objectives In this skills building seminar, both junior and senior researchers will be offered an engaging and interactive method for starting effective RCR education. Aim 1 experiencing collaborative designing of RCR education Aim 2 Empowering junior and senior researchers in addressing RCR. Method Participants will be introduced to the “7 minutes - 7 people = RCR education programme” as developed by the seminar leader. Programme Short introduction: DIY RCR education (15 minutes)Interactive session: Acquiring the skill of “7 minutes - 7 people = RCR education programme” (35 minutes)Experiences, successes and limitations of this method (20 minutes)Discussion - wrap up -lessons learned (20 minutes) Key messages The driving force of Responsible Conduct in Research courses is taking the process of discovery of junior researchers as starting point. The seminar will teach students (junior researchers) and teachers (senior researchers) how to draft a challenging programme for RCR-education in 30 minutes.


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