Research Misconduct

The University of Aberdeen expects the highest standards of integrity to be adhered to by its researchers. The Policy and Guidelines on Good Research Practice and Statement on the Handling of Allegations of Research Misconduct indicates the standards of good practice which are required to be adopted by staff throughout the University and which are intended to satisfy the requirements of all funding authorities.

Good research practice as described in this document will be promoted and promulgated throughout the University by Senior Managers including Vice-Principals, Heads of Colleges, Directors of Research and Heads of Schools/Departments. The Policy and Guidelines, and their compliance in Colleges, will be reviewed annually by the University Committee for Research Ethics and Governance. The aim is to promote and promulgate good research practice, integrity and rigour in research, and to create a culture in which the following general points will be understood and observed:

• Integrity in research;
• Openness in research;
• Role of professional bodies;
• Leadership and supervision in research;
• Ownership of research;
• Ethical practice in research;
• Risk of research misuse;
• Publication practice.

Unacceptable research conduct includes each of the following:

• Fabrication
  This includes the creation of false data or other aspects of research, including documentation and participant consent.
   
   
• Falsification
  This includes the inappropriate manipulation and/or selection of data, imagery and/or consents.
   
   
• Plagiarism
  This includes the general misappropriation or use of others’ ideas, intellectual property or work (written or otherwise), without acknowledgement or permission.
   
   
• Misrepresentation, including:
   
  misrepresentation of data, for example suppression of relevant findings and/or data, or knowingly, recklessly or by gross negligence, presenting a flawed interpretation of data;
   
  undisclosed duplication of publication, including undisclosed duplicate submission of manuscripts for publication;
   
  misrepresentation of interests, including failure to declare material interests either of the researcher or of the funders of the research;
   
  misrepresentation of qualifications and/or experience, including claiming or implying qualifications or experience which are not held;
   
  misrepresentation of involvement, such as inappropriate claims to authorship and/or attribution of work where there has been no significant contribution, or the denial of authorship where an author has made a significant contribution.
   
    
• Mismanagement or inadequate preservation of data and/or primary materials, including failure to keep clear and accurate records of the research procedures followed and the results obtained, including interim results;
   
   
• Integrity, Clarity and Good Management
   
  hold records securely in paper or electronic form;
   
  make relevant primary data and research evidence accessible to others for reasonable periods after the completion of the research: data should normally be preserved and accessible for ten years, but for projects of clinical or major social, environmental or heritage importance, for 20 years or longer;
   
  manage data according to the research funder’s data policy and all relevant legislation;
   
  wherever possible, deposit data permanently within a national collection. Responsibility for proper management and preservation of data and primary materials is shared between the researcher and the research organisation.
   
   
• Breach of duty of care, which involves deliberately, recklessly or by gross negligence:
   
  disclosing improperly the identity of individuals or groups involved in research without their consent, or other breach of confidentiality;
   
  placing any of those involved in research in danger, whether as subjects, participants or associated individuals, without their prior consent, and without appropriate safeguards even with consent; this includes reputational danger where that can be anticipated;
   
  not taking all reasonable care to ensure that the risks and dangers, the broad objectives and the sponsors of the research are known to participants or their legal representatives, to ensure appropriate informed consent is obtained properly, explicitly and transparently;
   
  not observing legal and reasonable ethical requirements or obligations of care for animal subjects, human organs or tissue used in research, or for the protection of the environment;
   
  improper conduct in peer review of research proposals or results (including manuscripts submitted for publication); this includes failure to disclose conflicts of interest; inadequate disclosure of clearly limited competence; misappropriation of the content of material; and breach of confidentiality or abuse of material provided in confidence for peer review purposes.

Source:  RCUK, Integrity, Clarity and Good Management