Research Ethics Framework

Researchers in the College of Physical Sciences are required to comply with the institutional Research Ethics Framework, which was drawn up by the institutional Advisory Group on Research Ethics and Governance.

The Framework includes institutional Policy and Guidelines on Good Research Practice, and a Statement on the Handling of Allegations of Research Misconduct, as well as institutional guidelines on Keeping of Research Records.  

RCUK Requirements

From 1 October 2009, compliance with the RCUK Policy and Code of Conduct on the Governance of Good Research Conduct (as set out in Integrity, Clarity and Good Management, published in July 2009, has become a condition of grant.

The terms and conditions for research council grants require the following:

‘The Research Organisation is responsible for ensuring that ethical issues relating to the research project are identified and brought to the attention of the relevant approval or regulatory body.  Approval to undertake the research must be granted before any work requiring approval begins.  Ethical issues should be interpreted broadly and may encompass, among other things, relevant codes of practice, the involvement of human participants, tissue or data in research, the use of animals, research that may result in damage to the environment and the use of sensitive economic, social or personal data.’  [www.rcuk.ac.uk/documents/documents/tcfec.pdf]

A summary of what constitutes unacceptable research conduct, as defined by RCUK, is set out in the RCUK Policy and Code of Conduct on the Governance of Good Research Conduct.

A checklist for researchers assisting good research conduct, as recommended by UKRIO (the UK Research Integrity Office) can be downloaded from here.