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Research Integrity

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Individual Responsibilities

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This section clarifies the personal responsibilities of researchers at all levels of their career.

As the level of responsibility increases, the requirements of the other categories continue to apply e.g., responsibilities set out for ‘Researcher’ apply also to ‘Principal Investigator’ or ‘Head of academic unit.ÌýAlthough each individual involved in research will have their own specific responsibilities in terms of their tasks and level of formal accountability, the principal rule is that you as an individual are responsible for your own actions. This section is complemented with specific responsibilities set out for the research life cycle.

Click on the tabs below to find out more:

Researcher - staff and studentÌý

Individual Researcher
For the purpose of this Code, ‘Researcher is defined as any person involved in research including, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê students or staff, honorary staff, affiliate academics and visiting researchers. This definition includes anyone performing activities that support the ‘disciplined inquiry that aims to contribute to a body of knowledge or theory’ and would include technical or other professional staff directly engaged in the research activity themselves or on behalf of the academic staff. As a researcher:Ìý

You Must:Ìý

You Should:Ìý

Supervisor of student research

As a student research supervisor:ÌýÌý

You Must:Ìý

  • Ensure that appropriate risk assessmentsÌýare completed prior to commencing research. Monitor and review at regular intervals, or in the event of change, as you are accountable for the safety of students under your supervision.ÌýÌý
  • Work with the students and others as necessary to ensure that all relevant ethical, legal and Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê requirements are fulfilled.Ìý

You Should:Ìý

  • Help students to identify and undertake appropriate training to ensure they are able to undertake the research according to best practices.ÌýÌý
  • Openly and honestly discuss, respect and acknowledge student contributions to research projects, including having conversations and setting expectations around intellectual property and potential authorship.Ìý
Principal investigator

While responsibility for compliance with safety, ethics and any other legal standards lies with leaders of research groups, responsibility may be delegated to other staff provided that it is made clear and documented within the research group what is expected of each of its members. As a principal investigator:ÌýÌý

You Must:Ìý

  • Ensure that appropriate risk assessmentsÌýare completed prior to commencing research. Monitor and review at regular intervals, or in the event of change, as you are accountable for the safety of others under your supervision.Ìý
  • Ensure that all relevant ethical, legal and Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê requirements relating to the work of your team are fulfilled.Take steps to ensure that all researchers involved in the work are aware of the relevant safety, ethical and legal standards and restrictions (e.g., on data sharing) relating to the research.Ìý
  • Ensure the appropriate financial management of funds in line with Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Financial RegulationsÌýand Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Post Award Policy.ÌýÌý

You Should:Ìý

Head of academic unit

Head icon
Heads of academic unit within the university include heads of faculty, departments, institutes and other academic divisions. As a Head of academic unit:Ìý

You Should:Ìý

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Collaborative work

Collaborative icon
This applies to academic and non-academic collaborations including work with third parties, such as inter-faculty, team projects, and cross-institutional collaborations. We recognise that there might be different standards and requirements in different disciplines, institutions or countries. If there are any clashes or conflicts between the different requirements and policies, you should seek advice from the relevant department or individual, e.g., Research Services, Data Protection Office, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Research Ethics Committee, etc.Ìý

As a Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê researcher, you should always build your collaborations on honesty, rigour, transparency, open communication, care and respect.Ìý

You Must:Ìý

  • Work in accordance with the policies and procedures of both Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê and the partner institution concerned.Ìý

You Should:Ìý

  • Inform collaborators of the behaviours and research integrity standards, including our legal and ethical obligations.Ìý
  • Follow the standards for international collaborations as set out in ‘’.Ìý
  • Before the start of the research, clarify and agree with all the collaborators:Ìý
    • The roles and responsibilities of all collaborators. You need to agree who the sponsor/s is/are and where the responsibility for the research lies, whether with Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê or other. This may need to be re-negotiation over time as appropriate.Ìý
    • The laws and regulations that will apply, including if relevant regulatory permissions and approvals that will need to be obtained and adhered to e.g., data control and management, ethical review requirements, publication policy, procedures for handling conflicts, protection of the intellectual property, possible cases of misconduct, etc.Ìý
  • Agree with all collaborators content and authorship on submissions for publication of the research results.Ìý
  • Raise awareness with the collaborators of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê policies, including Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê’s Prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy, current Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê guidance on Equity, Diversity, and InclusionÌýand Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê’s Safeguarding Policy.ÌýÌý

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Please see associated policies and guidance -ÌýQuick LinksÌýÌý