1 Research Integrity & Ethics ProcessesDr Rochelle Stewart-Withers Chair: Southern B Ethics Committee
2 Overview Research Integrity policy Research ethics online processesPrinciples Guidance Research misconduct Research ethics online processes Principles, Massey structure Preparing & applying Following application
3 Research Integrity definedResearch integrity can be defined as the 'trustworthiness of research due to the soundness of its methods and the honesty and accuracy of its presentation Draft Singapore Statement 2010 Research integrity broadly refers to the thoughtful and honest adherence to relevant ethical, disciplinary, and financial standards in the promotion, design, conduct, evaluation, and sharing of research. The Continuum from Research Integrity to Research Misconduct, Michigan State University
4 Principles of Research IntegrityHonesty Reliability Use of robust research methodologies Impartiality and independence Open communication Duty of care for participants Fairness High standards of mentorship and supervision Awareness of responsibilities to society
5 Research Integrity Policy structurePart 1 Code of responsible research conduct Principles, Responsibilities of institution, researchers Part 2 Research misconduct Categories of breaches, Principles for dealing with breaches, Definitions Appendix 1 Guidance on Responsible research conduct Nine explanatory sections Appendix 2 Procedures for dealing with minor breaches and research misconduct Procedures for dealing with allegations related to an external research agency with its own policy for dealing with research misconduct Appendix 3 References
6 Guidance on responsible research conductAppendix 1 Guidance on responsible research conduct General guidance Research supervision Peer review Conflict of interest Collaborative research Māori and/or Pasifika research Research phases Research practice Research records and data Dissemination, publication and authorship Public communication
7 Research Misconduct definedThe violation of the standard codes of scholarly conduct and ethical behavior in professional scientific research ...(research that) deviates from practices commonly accepted in the discipline or in the academic and research communities generally in proposing, performing, reviewing, or reporting research and creative activities The Continuum from Research Integrity to Research Misconduct Michigan State University
8 Common types of research misconductFalsification – manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting research data or results, such that research is not accurately represented in the research record Fabrication – making up research data or results and recording or reporting them Plagiarism – the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit. [Turnitin used by Massey for assurance]
9 Question for discussionMy student is about to submit a paper to a prestigious journal. It was their idea; should I be included as an author on the paper because I am a supervisor? Yes, always. If the supervisor wrote a significant part of the text. Yes, if the supervisor provided the funding. No.
10 Plagiarism https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/staffroom/teaching-and-learning/centres_tl/centrestl-students/our-resources/academic-integrity-student-guide/academic-integrity-student-guide_home.cfm
11 Authorship Authors named on a publication should:Have made a creative and significant intellectual contribution to the research; Have given their permission to be named as an author; Not be named as an author solely on the basis of being the supervisor of the researcher or student undertaking the research, or the leader of the research group, where a creative and significant contribution has not been made to the research; Not be involved solely in writing the publication, unless contributing to critically revising the interpretation.
12 Processes for dealing with misconductSee Appendix 2 Informal – between staff and/or students involved (Who would you go to?) OR, for advice 2. Formal – written message to AVC (Research, Academic & Enterprise) Dean, Graduate Research Professor Marlena Kruger Student Director, Research Operations Dr Michael Millan Director, Research Ethics Dr Brian Finch
13 Code of responsible research conductResearch Integrity Research Ethics Codes
14 Ethical conduct for research, teaching and evaluations involving human participants
15 The Code - major ethical principlesRespect for persons Minimisation of harm (participants, researchers, institutions and groups) Informed and voluntary consent Respect for privacy and confidentiality Avoidance of unnecessary deception Avoidance of conflict of interest Social & cultural sensitivity to the age, gender, culture, religion and social class of participants Justice
16 Massey research ethics structureAssistant Vice Chancellor Research, Academic & Enterprise Director of Research Ethics Human Ethics Committees Northern (most Albany applications) Southern B (share of Manawatu & Wellington applications) Southern A (share of Manawatu & Wellington plus any applications involving exercise regime, physiological samples) Animal Ethics Committee Genetic Technologies Committee
17 Overview of ethics applications, 2015Human ethics (across 3 committees) Low risk notifications (72%) Full applications to Human Ethics Committees (28%) Animal Ethics Genetic Technologies
18 Human Ethics application processes
19 Processes involved in preparing and applyingi) Risk assessment sections Risk of harm Informed and voluntary consent Privacy and confidentiality Deception Conflict of interest Compensation Procedural
20 ii) Identifying, discussing & dealing with ethical issuesIdentify issues by talking with several ‘experts’ Consider ‘worst case’ scenarios Discuss design to mitigate issues, minimise problems Further thinking about participants or procedures may be required e.g. - Unicef (2013). Ethical research involving children - Visual methodologies and confidentiality Communicate fully -with committee in application -with participants in Information Sheet Aim to achieve the best research through negotiation with the Human Ethics Committee: for you - for participants
21 iii) Thinking ethically about cultural issuesTreaty of Waitangi section Partnership, participation & protection Principles of respect, informed consent and privacy apply to collectives (whanau, hapu and iwi) Principle of research adequacy – acknowledgement of Kaupapa Māori research and ethical paradigm, a relationships rather than principlist paradigm Bishop, R. (1996). Collaborative Research Stories: Whakawhanaungatanga. Palmerston North: Dunmore Press. Principle of cultural sensitivity requires acknowledgement of cultural diversity, consultation & reciprocity in dissemination, as well as during data gathering
22 Human Ethics Committee decision pathwaysApproved Human Ethics Committee Chair Provisionally Approved Researcher response Approval Deferred Researcher response Approval Declined
23 Animal Ethics Committee decision pathwaysApproved Approved in principle Secretary Animal Ethics Committee Chair Researcher response Approved provisionally Approval Deferred Researcher response Approval Declined
24 Following approval/notificationResearcher obligations ‘ethics in practice’’ Recruitment/consent Inform REO may be minor amendment Changes in research design Data generating/checking Relationship with participants Consent an ongoing process Reflective ethical practice Reciprocity Discuss with advisers/ REO Writing Unexpected ethical moments Dissemination Participant rights to negotiate with researcher to contact Research Ethics Office
25 Contact points https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/staffroom/policy-guide/research/research_home.cfm https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/fms/PolicyGuide/Documents/Research/Code%20of%20Responsible%20Research%20Conduct.pdf?BBD750C FCA508DCB59B48210 Researcher Development Coordinator Research Human Ethics Research Animal Ethics