The integrity of knowledge that emerges from research is based on individual and collective adherence to core values of objectivity, honesty, openness, fairness, accountability, and stewardship. Integrity in science means that the organizations in which research is conducted encourage those involved to exemplify these values in every step of the research process. Understanding the dynamics that support — or distort — practices that uphold the integrity of research by all participants ensures that the research enterprise advances knowledge.

The 1992 report Responsible Science: Ensuring the Integrity of the Research Process evaluated issues related to scientific responsibility and the conduct of research. It provided a valuable service in describing and analyzing a very complicated set of issues, and has served as a crucial basis for thinking about research integrity for more than two decades. However, as experience has accumulated with various forms of research misconduct, detrimental research practices, and other forms of misconduct, as subsequent empirical research has revealed more about the nature of scientific misconduct, and because technological and social changes have altered the environment in which science is conducted, it is clear that the framework established more than two decades ago needs to be updated.

Responsible Science served as a valuable benchmark to set the context for this most recent analysis and to help guide the committee's thought process. Fostering Integrity in Research identifies best practices in research and recommends practical options for discouraging and addressing research misconduct and detrimental research practices.

Contents

• The National Academies of SCIENCES • ENGINEERING • MEDICINE
• COMMITTEE ON RESPONSIBLE SCIENCE
• COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, MEDICINE, AND PUBLIC POLICY
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Summary
  • BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
  • RECOMMENDATIONS
• 1. The Integrity of Research
  • 1. Introduction
    • THE 1992 RESPONSIBLE SCIENCE REPORT
    • WHY REVISIT THESE ISSUES?
    • A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT
    • STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT
  • 2. Foundations of Integrity in Research: Core Values and Guiding Norms
    • TRANSMITTING VALUES AND NORMS IN RESEARCH
    • THE CORE VALUES OF RESEARCH
    • A DEFINITION OF RESEARCH INTEGRITY
  • 3. Important Trends and Challenges in the Research Environment
    • HOW RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT ISSUES IDENTIFIED IN RESPONSIBLE SCIENCE HAVE EVOLVED SINCE THE EARLY 1990s
    • MAJOR CHANGES IN THE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT SINCE 1992
    • TRENDS IN RESEARCH AND IMPLICATIONS FOR AUTHORSHIP
• 2. Research Misconduct and Detrimental Research Practices
  • 4. Context and Definitions
    • HISTORICAL CONTEXT
    • WHY IS A FRAMEWORK OF CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS NEEDED?
    • RESEARCH MISCONDUCT
    • DETRIMENTAL RESEARCH PRACTICES
    • OTHER MISCONDUCT
  • 5. Incidence and Consequences
    • THE INCIDENCE OF RESEARCH MISCONDUCT AND DETRIMENTAL RESEARCH PRACTICES
    • COSTS AND CONSEQUENCES
  • 6. Understanding the Causes
    • WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES OF RESEARCH MISCONDUCT?
    • INSIGHTS FROM THE SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES ABOUT RESEARCH MISCONDUCT AND DETRIMENTAL RESEARCH PRACTICES
    • CURRENT FUNDING AND ORGANIZATIONAL TRENDS AND THEIR NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON RESEARCH ENVIRONMENTS
    • THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH ON RESEARCH INTEGRITY
  • 7. Addressing Research Misconduct and Detrimental Research Practices: Current Knowledge and Issues
    • ADDRESSING RESEARCH MISCONDUCT
    • ADDRESSING DETRIMENTAL RESEARCH PRACTICES
    • AUTHORSHIP-RELATED CHALLENGES TO RESEARCH INTEGRITY
    • ADDRESSING OTHER MISCONDUCT: PROTECTING THOSE WHO RAISE CONCERNS AND MAKE GOOD-FAITH ALLEGATIONS
  • 8. Exploring New Approaches
    • COSTS AND BENEFITS OF IMPROVED APPROACHES
    • THE RESEARCH INTEGRITY ADVISORY BOARD
    • STRENGTHENING AUTHORSHIP STANDARDS AND PRACTICES
• 3. Fostering Integrity in Research
  • 9. Identifying and Promoting Best Practices for Research Integrity
    • FRAMING BEST PRACTICES FOR RESEARCH INTEGRITY
  • 10. Education for the Responsible Conduct of Research
    • PUTTING RCR EDUCATION ACTIVITIES IN CONTEXT
    • FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RCR EDUCATION
    • THE OBJECTIVES, GOALS, AND BENEFITS OF RCR EDUCATION
    • THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RCR EDUCATION AND ITS ASSESSMENT
    • STRATEGIES AND FORMS OF RCR EDUCATION
    • RCR EDUCATION IN THE BROADER CONTEXT
    • A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO RCR EDUCATION
  • 11. Findings and Recommendations
    • UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES
    • FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• Appendixes
  • Appendix A. Biographical Information on the Committee and Staff
  • Appendix B. Agendas of Committee Meeting Public Sessions
  • Appendix C. Assessing the Effectiveness of Responsible Conduct of Research Training: Key Findings and Viable Procedures
  • Appendix D. Detailed Case Histories
  • Appendix E. Bibliography

Suggested citation:

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Fostering Integrity in Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: https://doi.org/10.17226/21896.