Research Integrity

In this chapter, the principles described earlier are further elaborated into more specific standards for good research practices. These set out what researchers must take into consideration in their work, individually and as a team. They are for the most part presented separately for each individual phase of the research process: design, conduct, reporting, assessment and peer review and communication. The chapter concludes with a number of standards applicable to all phases. In their elaboration and application, the differences between fundamental, applied and practice-oriented research may be relevant.

When conducting research, it is essential to consider the interests of science, scholarship, and society, ensuring your work is relevant and valuable in these areas. Avoid making unsupported claims and incorporate the latest insights from your field. Design your research to effectively answer the research questions using well-justified methods. Disclose any third-party funding or commissions, and be transparent about external stakeholders and potential conflicts of interest. Make clear agreements with external partners regarding research integrity and intellectual property. Organize and classify your data for verification and reuse, and share your findings and data publicly unless there are valid reasons not to. In cases of alleged research misconduct, provide all relevant data for verification, respecting confidentiality where necessary. Obtain all required permissions and ethical reviews, accept only research assignments that comply with the Code’s standards, and ensure joint research with external partners adheres to these integrity principles.

The code emphasizes the importance of conducting research with accuracy and precision, employing scientifically and/or scholarly justified methods, and avoiding the influence of non-scientific interests such as commercial or political biases. Researchers must not fabricate or manipulate data and should report all results truthfully. Data should be managed and stored responsibly, ensuring verifiability and adherence to the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable). The guidelines also stress the ethical treatment of human and animal subjects, compliance with relevant regulations, and maintaining and applying current expertise. Researchers should only undertake tasks within their area of expertise.

Ensure fairness and transparency in research by giving proper credit to all contributors and assigning authorship according to discipline standards. Authors must have made significant intellectual contributions, approved the final product, and take responsibility for its content. Present sources, data, and arguments accurately, and document methods and procedures clearly for verification and replication. Disclose any relevant unreported data and be clear about results, uncertainties, and alternative interpretations. Properly cite others' work and avoid unnecessary self-citation and excessive referencing. Be transparent about external influences and make research findings public whenever possible, providing valid reasons if not.

As an assessor or peer reviewer, maintain honesty and thoroughness in your evaluations, providing clear explanations for your assessments. Do not use information from assessments without explicit consent, and avoid engaging in citation manipulation to artificially boost citation scores. Refrain from assessing if there are concerns about your independence due to potential conflicts of interest, and limit assessments to your areas of expertise or provide general comments otherwise. Cooperate fully with internal and external reviews of your own research, and do not support or participate in journals that fail to uphold proper quality standards.

In public communication, ensure honesty by clearly outlining the limitations of your research and your own expertise, and only share results with the general public when there is sufficient certainty. Transparently disclose your role and status in public debates and openly acknowledge any potential conflicts of interest.

As a supervisor, principal investigator, or research manager, foster an open and inclusive research environment while ensuring adherence to ethical standards. Avoid actions that might pressure researchers to neglect these standards, and do not unduly obstruct their work. Address and report non-compliance and inadequate institutional responses when necessary, making sure not to make false accusations of misconduct. Additionally, ensure that research funds are used appropriately and responsibly.