Linda Mason, Ed.D. Coordinator for Grantwriting and External Funding Technical Assistance Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education IP:

ETHICS IN RESEARCH In general terms, responsible conduct in research is simply good citizenship applied to professional life. Researchers who report their work HonestlyAccuratelyEfficientlyObjectively Irresponsible, or unethical conduct includes: Knowingly reporting inaccurate results Wasting funds Allows personal bias to influence scientific findings

UNETHICAL CONDUCT Irresponsible, or unethical conduct includes: Knowingly reporting inaccurate results Wasting funds Allows personal bias to influence scientific findings

ETHICS IN RESEARCH Principle Investigator –Truth in follow-through

What are the broader impacts? Are undergraduate students involved? Are K-12 students involved? K-12 teachers? Are underrepresented staff or students involved? Is your local community involved? Are there statewide, national or international collaborations?

What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity? How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields? How well qualified is the proposer? Does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative and original concepts? How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to resources?

ETHICS IN RESEARCH Research is not an organized profession in the same way as law or medicines. Researchers learn best practices in a number of ways and in different settings. Norms vary Local, state and Federal regulations

Shared Values Honesty – conveying information truthfully and honoring commitments (15%) Accuracy – reporting findings precisely and taking care to avoid errors (30%) Efficiency – using resources wisely and avoiding time waste Objectivity – letting the facts speak for themselves and avoiding improper bias

Guidance Not like obtaining a driver’s license Some laws and policies Other codes and guidelines Some responsible practices accepted but not written – mentoring, not monitored or tested Penalties vary

Guidance: Professional codes Government regulations Institutional policies Personal convictions

Professional Codes Many professional organizations do have a code of ethics. Many professional organizations do have a code of ethics. Many are general statements about ideals and do not contain specific guidance. Many are general statements about ideals and do not contain specific guidance.

Code Resources Sigma Xi. Honor in Science National Academy of Sciences. On Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct in Research National Institutes of Health. Guidelines for the Conduct of Research in the Intramural Research Programs at NIK

Code Resources –Institute of Medicine. The Responsible Conduct of Research in the Health Sciences html/

American Chemical Society The Chemist’s Code of Conduct, 1994 The public Chemists have a professional responsibility to serve the public interest and welfare and to further knowledge of science. Chemists have a professional responsibility to serve the public interest and welfare and to further knowledge of science.

American Chemical Society The Chemist’s Code of Conduct, 1994 The Science of Chemistry Chemists should seek to advance chemical science, understand the limitations of their knowledge, and respect the truth. Chemists should seek to advance chemical science, understand the limitations of their knowledge, and respect the truth.

American Chemical Society The Chemist’s Code of Conduct, 1994 The Profession Chemists should remain current with developments in their field, share ideas and information, keep accurate and complete laboratory records, maintain integrity in all conduct and publications, and give due credit to the contributions of others. Conflicts of interest and scientific misconduct, such as fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism, are incompatible with this Code.

American Chemical Society The Chemist’s Code of Conduct, 1994 The Employer Chemists should promote and protect the legitimate interests of their employers, perform work honestly and competently, fulfill obligations, and safeguard propriety information. Chemists should promote and protect the legitimate interests of their employers, perform work honestly and competently, fulfill obligations, and safeguard propriety information.

American Chemical Society The Chemist’s Code of Conduct, 1994 Employees Chemists, as employers, should treat subordinates with respect for their professionalism and concern for their well- being. Chemists, as employers, should treat subordinates with respect for their professionalism and concern for their well- being.

American Chemical Society The Chemist’s Code of Conduct, 1994 Students Chemists should regard the tutelage of students as a trust conferred by society for the promotion of the student’s learning and professional development.

American Chemical Society The Chemist’s Code of Conduct, 1994 Associates Chemists should treat associates with respect, regardless of the level of their formal education, encourage them, learn with them, share ideas honestly, and give credit for their contributions. Chemists should treat associates with respect, regardless of the level of their formal education, encourage them, learn with them, share ideas honestly, and give credit for their contributions.

Government Regulations The 1966 Animal Welfare Act (PL ) The 1974 National Research Act (PL ) The 1985 Health Research Extension Act (PL ) –Office of Scientific Integrity Review (OSIR) Federal Administrative Procedure Act (5 USC ) (establishing new regulations) Executive Branch Agencies – NIH “Training Grant Requirement” 1989; “Required Education in the Protection of Human Research Participants” 1974 “Common Rule” (45 CFR 46A-D)

Institutional Policies Required by law to have policies that cover various aspect of research programs if they accept Federal funds Committees of review Procedures for investigating and reporting misconduct Approve and mange all grant budgets Ensure that safety rules are followed Follow established practices for use of hazardous substances Provide training for researchers who use animal or human participants

Institutional Policies Website information Copies of institutional research policies written Links to state and Federal policies Required forms and instructions for completion Responsible conduct training programs Lists of key resource personnel

Institutional Policies Misconduct Establish definitions for misconduct in grant projects Outline procedures for reporting and investigating misconduct Provide protection for whistleblowers and persons accused of misconduct Federal Policy on Misconduct

Personal Convictions Written convictions Peer review Subject-matter expert review Personal value expert review

Ethics should be a regular discussion on campuses, in departments, with peers, with experts, with a free flow of information— ESPECIALLY with PUI’S for which research is an emerging field.

Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research By Nicholas H. Steneck Published by Office of Research Integrity, 2004