scholarly journals Improving research quality: the view from the UK Reproducibility Network institutional leads for research improvement

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Stewart ◽  
Emily K. Farran ◽  
James A. Grange ◽  
Malcolm Macleod ◽  
Marcus Munafò ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Output ◽  
Research Integrity ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Research Practices ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Research Organisations ◽  
The Uk

AbstractThe adoption and incentivisation of open and transparent research practices is critical in addressing issues around research reproducibility and research integrity. These practices will require training and funding. Individuals need to be incentivised to adopt open and transparent research practices (e.g., added as desirable criteria in hiring, probation, and promotion decisions, recognition that funded research should be conducted openly and transparently, the importance of publishers mandating the publication of research workflows and appropriately curated data associated with each research output). Similarly, institutions need to be incentivised to encourage the adoption of open and transparent practices by researchers. Research quality should be prioritised over research quantity. As research transparency will look different for different disciplines, there can be no one-size-fits-all approach. An outward looking and joined up UK research strategy is needed that places openness and transparency at the heart of research activity. This should involve key stakeholders (institutions, research organisations, funders, publishers, and Government) and crucially should be focused on action. Failure to do this will have negative consequences not just for UK research, but also for our ability to innovate and subsequently commercialise UK-led discovery.

scholarly journals The RCCM 2009 Survey: Mapping Doctoral and Postdoctoral CAM Research in the United Kingdom

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Robinson ◽  
George Lewith
Keyword(s):  
Research Capacity ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Research Assessment ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Strategic Approach ◽  
Rigorous Research ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Uk

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is widely available in the UK and used frequently by the public, but there is little high quality research to sustain its continued use and potential integration into the NHS. There is, therefore, a need to develop rigorous research in this area. One essential way forward is to train and develop more CAM researchers so that we can enhance academic capacity and provide the evidence upon which to base strategic healthcare decisions. This UK survey identified 80 research active postgraduates registered for MPhils/PhDs in 21 universities and were either current students or had completed their postgraduate degree during the recent UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2001–2008. The single largest postgraduate degree funder was the university where the students registered (26/80). Thirty-two projects involved randomized controlled trials and 33 used qualitative research methods. The UK RAE also indicates a significant growth of postdoctoral and tenured research activity over this period (in 2001 there were three full time equivalents; in 2008 there were 15.5) with a considerable improvement in research quality. This mapping exercise suggests that considerable effort is currently being invested in developing UK CAM research capacity and thus inform decision making in this area. However, in comparative international terms UK funding is very limited. As in the USA and Australia, a centralized and strategic approach by the National Institute of Health Research to this currently uncoordinated and underfunded activity may benefit CAM research in the UK.

scholarly journals Guidance Document on Good Academic Research Practices (UGC GARP 2020)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
AISDL
Keyword(s):  
Research Performance ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Research Integrity ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Guidance Document ◽  
Research Practices ◽  
Quality Research ◽  
Education In India ◽  
The University

Message from the Chairman I am delighted to present the Guidance Document on Good Academic Research Practices (GARP). This document gives information on good practices across the research lifecycle for quality, impactful, and ethical research.It is important to conduct quality research with integrity and focus on publishing the outcomes in high-quality journals. This will help in raising the benchmarks of research performance and enhancing the reputation of individuals, institutions, and the country. The University Grants Commission (UGC) is committed to raising the standards of research at institutions of higher education in India. This document reiterates the values underlying research integrity to help create a culture of responsible and quality research in the academic and research community. It offers practical checklists at each step of the research, which will act as good ready references for the audience. This compilation also covers guidance from several internationally and nationally recognized model documents on best practices and frameworks of research. The guidance will help prepare the Indian academic research community to be at par with international benchmarks for research quality, integrity, and excellence.I congratulate the Vice Chairman, UGC, the knowledge partner Clarivate, and the expert group committee members who have worked tirelessly to conceptualize and compile this document.I hope the academic and research community will find the GARP document helpful to guide them towards quality and ethical research.Prof. D. P. Singh - Chairman, UGC

scholarly journals Rigour and reproducibility in Canadian research: call for a coordinated approach

FACETS ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 18-24
Author(s):  
Robert T. Thibault ◽  
Marcus R. Munafò ◽  
David Moher
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Reproducible Research ◽  
Research Practices ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Repeated Calls ◽  
Learned Societies ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Canadian Research

Shortcomings in the rigour and reproducibility of research have become well-known issues and persist despite repeated calls for improvement. A coordinated effort among researchers, institutions, funders, publishers, learned societies, and regulators may be the most effective way of tackling these issues. The UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) has fostered collaboration across various stakeholders in research and are creating the infrastructure necessary to advance rigorous and reproducible research practices across the United Kingdom. Other Reproducibility Networks, modelled on UKRN, are now emerging in other countries. Canada could benefit from a comparable network to unify the voices around research quality and maximize the value of Canadian research.

scholarly journals Prevalence of questionable research practices, research misconduct and their potential explanatory factors: a survey among academic researchers in The Netherlands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gowri Gopalakrishna ◽  
Gerben ter Riet ◽  
Maarten J.L.F. Cruyff ◽  
Gerko Vink ◽  
Ineke Stoop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Research Misconduct ◽  
Research Integrity ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Research Practices ◽  
Publish Or Perish ◽  
Questionable Research Practices ◽  
Explanatory Factors ◽  
Scientific Norm ◽  
Response Method

BackgroundPrevalence of research misconduct, questionable research practices (QRPs) and their associations with a range of explanatory factors has not been studied sufficiently among academic researchers.Methods The National Survey on Research Integrity was aimed at all disciplinary fields and academic ranks in the Netherlands. The survey enquired about engagement in fabrication, falsification and 11 QRPs over the previous three years, and 12 explanatory factor scales. We ensured strict identity protection and used a randomized response method for questions on research misconduct. Results6,813 respondents completed the survey. Prevalence of fabrication was 4.3% (95% CI: 2.9, 5.7) and falsification 4.2% (95% CI: 2.8, 5.6). Prevalence of QRPs ranged from 0.6% (95% CI: 0.5, 0.9) to 17.5% (95 % CI: 16.4, 18.7) with 51.3% (95% CI: 50.1, 52.5) of respondents engaging frequently in ≥ 1 QRP. Being a PhD candidate or junior researcher increased the odds of frequently engaging in ≥ 1 QRP, as did being male. Scientific norm subscription (odds ratio (OR) 0.79; 95% CI: 0.63, 1.00) and perceived likelihood of detection by reviewers (OR 0.62, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.88) were associated with lower odds of research misconduct. Publication pressure was associated with higher odds of engaging frequently in ≥ 1 QRP (OR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.30).ConclusionsWe found higher prevalence of misconduct than earlier surveys. Our results suggest that greater emphasis on scientific norm subscription, strengthening reviewers in their role as gatekeepers of research quality and curbing the “publish or perish” incentive system can promote research integrity.

scholarly journals Reforms to improve reproducibility and quality must be coordinated across the research ecosystem: The view from the UKRN Local Network Leads

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Stewart ◽  
Charlotte Rebecca Pennington ◽  
Gonçalo Silva ◽  
Nick Ballou ◽  
Jessica Butler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Integrity ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Local Network ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
House Of Commons ◽  
Research Culture ◽  
Positive Research ◽  
Working Together ◽  
Fit For Purpose ◽  
The Uk

Many disciplines are facing a “reproducibility crisis”, ushering in much discussion about how to improve research integrity, reproducibility, and transparency. A unified effort across all sectors, levels, and stages of the research ecosystem is needed to coordinate goals and reforms that focus on open and transparent research practices, while promoting a more positive incentive culture for all. In this commentary, we - the Local Network Leads of the UK Reproducibility Network - outline our response to the UK House of Commons Science and Technology Committee’s inquiry on research integrity and reproducibility. We argue that the four areas for effective actions are to coordinate: (1) a positive research culture, (2) a unified stance on improving research quality, (3) common foundations for open and transparent research practice, and (4) the routinisation of this practice. For each of these areas, we outline the role that individuals, institutions, funders, publishers, and Government play in shaping the research ecosystem. Working together, these constituent members must also partner with sectoral and coordinating organisations to produce effective and long-lasting reforms that are fit-for-purpose and future-proof. These efforts will strengthen research quality and create research capable of generating far-reaching applications with a sustained impact on society.

scholarly journals A bibliometric study of human–computer interaction research activity in the Nordic-Baltic Eight countries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frode Eika Sandnes
Keyword(s):  
Human Computer Interaction ◽  
Research Output ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Baltic Countries ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
The Uk ◽  
First Time ◽  
Conference Papers ◽  
Computer Interaction

AbstractHuman–computer interaction (HCI) has become an important area for designers and developers worldwide, and research activities set in national cultural contexts addressing local challenges are often needed in industry and academia. This study explored HCI research in the Nordic-Baltic countries using bibliometric methods. The results show that the activity varies greatly across the region with activities dominated by Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, even when adjusting for differences in population size and GDP. Research output variations were larger for the top-tier conferences compared to entry-tier conferences and journals. Locally hosted conferences were associated with local increases in research activity. HCI research longevity appears to be an indicator of research maturity and quantity. HCI researchers typically collaborated either with colleagues within the same institution or with researchers from countries outside the Nordic-Baltic region such as US and the UK. There was less collaboration between national and Nordic-Baltic partners. Collaboration appeared especially prevalent for top-tier conference papers. Top-tier conference papers were also more frequently cited than regional-tier and entry-tier conferences, yet journal articles were cited the most. One implication of this study is that the HCI research activity gaps across the Nordic-Baltic countries should be narrowed by increasing the activity in countries with low research outputs. To achieve this, first-time authors could receive guidance through collaborations with experienced authors in the same institution or other labs around the world. More conferences could also be hosted locally. Furthermore, journals may be more effective than conferences if the goal is to accumulate citations.

LEGAL RESEARCH AT AHMAD IBRAHIM KULLIYYAH OF LAWS, INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA: TRENDS AND POLICIES

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hunud Abia Kadouf ◽  
Umar Aimhanosi Oseini ◽  
Ainul Jaria Maidin
Keyword(s):  
Research Output ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Legal Research ◽  
The Past ◽  
Research Institution ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
The Status

The primary function of Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah (Faculty) of Laws, at the very beginning of its inception, was that of teaching civil law and Sharî’ah subjects. As it matured, its vision has been varied from teaching to that of research with the aim of attaining the status of a full research institution that provides both quality research and best legal education in the region. Similar to other institutions of higher education in Malaysia, the responsibility of research is a shared function of both graduate students and the academic staff. The research output, on the part of the students is mostly composed of either Master Dissertations or PhD Theses. The academic members of the Faculty, however, are involved either in direct research, individually or jointly, supervision, and publications of their findings. By investigating and analyzing factors influencing research activities at AIKOL in the past twenty years, the researchers will be able to identify the general trends and development of research as it unfolded over years. The researchers hope that the policymakers, at both Faculty and University levels, will use the findings to improve research quality by boldly addressing the problems hampering research progress at AIKOL.

scholarly journals A semi-supervised approach for rapidly creating clinical biomarker phenotypes in the UK Biobank using different primary care EHR and clinical terminology systems

JAMIA Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spiros Denaxas ◽  
Anoop D Shah ◽  
Bilal A Mateen ◽  
Valerie Kuan ◽  
Jennifer K Quint ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Biomarker Discovery ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Uk Biobank ◽  
Expert Review ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards Models ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Objectives The UK Biobank (UKB) is making primary care electronic health records (EHRs) for 500 000 participants available for COVID-19-related research. Data are extracted from four sources, recorded using five clinical terminologies and stored in different schemas. The aims of our research were to: (a) develop a semi-supervised approach for bootstrapping EHR phenotyping algorithms in UKB EHR, and (b) to evaluate our approach by implementing and evaluating phenotypes for 31 common biomarkers. Materials and Methods We describe an algorithmic approach to phenotyping biomarkers in primary care EHR involving (a) bootstrapping definitions using existing phenotypes, (b) excluding generic, rare, or semantically distant terms, (c) forward-mapping terminology terms, (d) expert review, and (e) data extraction. We evaluated the phenotypes by assessing the ability to reproduce known epidemiological associations with all-cause mortality using Cox proportional hazards models. Results We created and evaluated phenotyping algorithms for 31 biomarkers many of which are directly related to COVID-19 complications, for example diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease. Our algorithm identified 1651 Read v2 and Clinical Terms Version 3 terms and automatically excluded 1228 terms. Clinical review excluded 103 terms and included 44 terms, resulting in 364 terms for data extraction (sensitivity 0.89, specificity 0.92). We extracted 38 190 682 events and identified 220 978 participants with at least one biomarker measured. Discussion and conclusion Bootstrapping phenotyping algorithms from similar EHR can potentially address pre-existing methodological concerns that undermine the outputs of biomarker discovery pipelines and provide research-quality phenotyping algorithms.

scholarly journals A qualitative exploration of patients’ experiences, needs and expectations regarding online access to their primary care record

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e044221
Author(s):  
Brian McMillan ◽  
Gail Davidge ◽  
Lindsey Brown ◽  
Moira Lyons ◽  
Helen Atherton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Primary Care Record ◽  
Online Access ◽  
Additional Support ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Records Access ◽  
Qualitative Exploration

ObjectivesPrimary care records have traditionally served the needs and demands of clinicians rather than those of the patient. In England, general practices must promote and offer registered patients online access to their primary care record, and research has shown benefits to both patients and clinicians of doing so. Despite this, we know little about patients’ needs and expectations regarding online access to their record. This study explored what patients and carers want from online access to their electronic primary care health record, their experiences of using it, how they would like to interact with their record and what support they may need.DesignFocus groups and semistructured interviews using purposive sampling to achieve a good sociodemographic spread. Interviews were digitally audiorecorded, transcribed and coded using an established thematic approach.SettingFocus groups and interviews were conducted in community settings in the UK.ParticipantsFifty-four individuals who were either eligible for the National Health Service Health Check, living with more than one long-term condition or caring for someone else.ResultsParticipants views regarding online access were categorised into four main themes: awareness, capabilities, consequences and inevitability. Participants felt online access should be better promoted, and suggested a number of additional functions, such as better integration with other parts of the healthcare system. It was felt that online access could improve quality of care (eg, through increased transparency) but also have potential negative consequences (eg, by replacing face to face contact). A move towards more online records access was considered inevitable, but participants noted a need for additional support and training in using the online record, especially to ensure that health inequalities are not exacerbated.ConclusionsDiscussions with patients and carers about their views of accessing online records have provided useful insights into future directions and potential improvements for this service.

scholarly journals Development of clinical guidelines for service provision of functional electrical stimulation to support walking: mixed method exploration of stakeholder views

BMC Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Bulley ◽  
C Meagher ◽  
T Street ◽  
A Adonis ◽  
C Peace ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Functional Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Clinical Guidelines ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Clinical Guideline ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Delphi Consensus ◽  
Stakeholder Views ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Background Over the past 20 years Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) has grown in clinical use to support walking in people with lower limb weakness or paralysis due to upper motor neuron lesions. Despite growing consensus regarding its benefits, provision across the UK and internationally is variable. This study aimed to explore stakeholder views relating to the value of a clinical guideline focusing on service provision of FES to support walking, how people might use it and what should be included. Methods A mixed methods exploration sought the views of key stakeholders. A pragmatic online survey (n = 223) focusing on the study aim was developed and distributed to the email distribution list of the UK Association for Chartered Physiotherapists Interested in Neurology (ACPIN). In parallel, a qualitative service evaluation and patient public involvement consultation was conducted. Two group, and seven individual interviews were conducted with: FES-users (n = 6), their family and carers (n = 3), physiotherapists (n = 4), service providers/developers (n = 2), researchers (n = 1) and distributors of FES (n = 1). Descriptive analysis of quantitative data and framework analysis of qualitative data were conducted. Results Support for clinical guideline development was clear in the qualitative interviews and the survey results. Survey respondents most strongly endorsed possible uses of the clinical guideline as ensuring best practice and supporting people seeking access to a FES service. Data analysis and synthesis provided clear areas for inclusion in the clinical guidelines, including current research evidence and consensus relating to who is most likely to benefit and optimal service provision as well as pathways to access this. Specific areas for further investigation were summarised for inclusion in the first stage of a Delphi consensus study. Conclusions Key stakeholders believe in the value of a clinical guideline that focuses on the different stages of service provision for FES to support walking. A Delphi consensus study is being planned based on the findings.

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