Research integrity is an essential part of good research. It includes a multitude of things, such as adhering to institutional policies and protocols, using honest and verifiable methods in all stages of research, and reporting findings clearly and transparently (view the UK Research Integrity Office integrity in practice toolkit pdf).
High standards of research integrity underpin the quality and reliability of research outcomes generated, and of decisions made in the light of those outcomes. Research integrity applies to all studies, whether these are led by staff or students, and whether these are undertaken locally or outside the UK.
All members of the University must work together to strengthen the integrity of research and to support a research environment that is underpinned by a culture of good practice.
Healthy research cultures and shared responsibilities on integrity
A research environment functions best when it is collaborative, inclusive, supportive, and underpinned by a commitment to research integrity.
Unhealthy research cultures create a pressurised environment which can lead to:
- corners being cut
- cherry-picking results
- data massaging or embellishment
- authorship disputes
- replicability / reproducibility issues (view the Wellcome survey on research culture).
Every researcher, regardless of seniority or experience, has a responsibility to create a healthy research environment in which the integrity of the research is paramount.
University Policy on Research Integrity and good research practice guidelines
The University of Liverpool is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethics and integrity in its research, and requires that all research projects undertaken under the auspices of the University observe a commitment to good research conduct.
The following documents set out the expectations in relation to good research practice:
- University Policy on Research Integrity
- UK Research and Innovation Policy and Guidelines on Governance of Good Research Conduct
Concordat to Support Research Integrity
The Universities UK Concordat to Support Research Integrity (pdf) seeks to provide a national framework for good research conduct and its governance.
The Concordat sets out five commitments that aim to ensure that research projects are underpinned by the highest standards of rigour and integrity. These are:
- Upholding the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research
- Ensuring that research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards
- Supporting a research environment that is underpinned by a culture of integrity and based on good governance, best practice, and support for the development of researchers
- Using transparent, timely, robust and fair processes to deal with allegations of research misconduct should they arise
- Working together to strengthen the integrity of research and to review progress regularly and openly.
All researchers should ensure that they play their role in the shared commitment to meeting the requirements of the Concordat, which can be accessed via the University’s research integrity webpages.
Principal Investigator and Supervisor responsibilities
Principal Investigators and Supervisors are responsible for the management and integrity of the design, conduct, and reporting of the research project; and for managing, monitoring, and ensuring the integrity of any collaborative relationships in research.
Principal Investigators and Supervisors have a responsibility to:
- Inform others involved in the research project about the requirements of research governance as it applies to them
- Ensure that all researchers working on the project are aware of their responsibilities
- Embedding research integrity throughout the design and conduct of the study.
It is crucial that Principal Investigators and Supervisors fulfil their responsibilities by creating a working environment that meets the highest standards of research ethics and research integrity.
While Principal Investigators and Supervisors play a crucial role, it should be stressed that all individuals involved in a research project – regardless of roles or seniority – have a responsibility ensure good research practice.
Reporting research integrity concerns
It is recognised that concerns relating to the research integrity and research misconduct can include a broad range of behaviour and activity, from minor transgressions to deliberate deception.
Concerns relating to research integrity can be complex, challenging and highly sensitive; and can impact upon the emotional and mental wellbeing of those involved.
The University appreciates that it can be a daunting experience to raise issues around research integrity, particularly given the power relations involved between colleagues with varying levels of seniority (view UK Research and Innovation landscape study, pdf)
All research integrity and research misconduct concerns can be raised in complete confidence with the University’s Named Person for Research Integrity (Professor Elizabeth Perkins) and the University’s Research Ethics and Research Integrity team by emailing integrity@liverpool.ac.uk.
Concerns can also be raised initially at a local level via, or with the assistance of, an intermediary such as a Line Manager, Head of School, Trade Union representative, or colleague.
Training in research integrity
The University offers training resources to ensure researchers are familiar with best practice in research.
Continual engagement with training in research integrity helps to ensure research is conducted to the highest standards of integrity.
Research integrity training resources are available on the University’s research integrity webpages, and should be supplemented by further inquiry and self-directed learning into research integrity.
For further details of training in research integrity, or any other research integrity matters, please contact integrity@liverpool.ac.uk.
Examples of good practice in research integrity
- Allow time for the submission of well-considered applications through internal and external governance processes
- Recognise and disclose activities that might give rise to conflicts of interest, or the perception of conflicts, and ensure that such conflicts are properly managed or avoided
- Discuss authorship when planning research, and revisit these discussions throughout the project
- Plan for data sharing and public pre-registration of studies, wherever possible, to address issues of reproducibility, replicability, and transparency
- Undertake training and development opportunities in research integrity and good research practice
- Ensure awareness with the process for raising research integrity concerns
- Evaluate the regulatory requirements, cultural differences, and approaches to training at the start of any research collaborations
- Hold regular research integrity discussions in which participants are afforded time and a safe space to actively consider integrity issues and any potential positive changes (no matter how small).
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