Research integrity involves following rules and guidelines relevant to your study. In many cases you will need your research and/or experiments to be reviewed by your School’s Ethics Review Board. It also includes adhering to licensing agreements when using databases and securing data agreements signed by authorized Tilburg University signatories when receiving data from third parties. Lastly, it involves ensuring compliance with regulations related to protection of personal data (GDPR), and data management.
Tilburg University Ethics Review Boards
When conducting research involving human participants, always consult your School’s regulations and procedures for the Ethics Review Board process. Increasingly, funding bodies and academic journals require ethical approval before research can proceed or be published. Please note that ethical approval will not be granted after data collection has begun.
Contract Management
When receiving data from a third party, it is crucial to establish the correct agreements and to have them signed by the correct people. Non-disclosure agreements and other contracts must be signed by authorized Tilburg University signatories to be legally binding—these signatories are typically not the PhD candidate or their supervisor.
Licensing Agreements
Complying with licensing agreements when using a database ensures that the terms set by the provider are met. Failure to comply can result in legal consequences, including fines or loss of access to the database.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The GDPR is a European Union law designed to protect individuals' personal data. It establishes strict rules for collecting, processing, and storing personal data, ensuring transparency and accountability. Non-compliance can lead to significant fines.
Theme policy scientific research
The policy applies to everyone working with personal data. It offers guidance on handling personal data throughout the research lifecycle, addressing key data protection considerations before, during, and after research.
Research Data Management
Regardless of whether your research involves personal data, Tilburg University expects all researchers to follow responsible research data management practices. This includes the proper handling and storing of data.
In the following sections, we provide more detailed guidance on the points mentioned above.