Responsible Conduct of Research
To advance the principles of responsible research conduct, the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance is in the process of developing a comprehensive Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Program. The program is dedicated to educating and fostering an ongoing dialogue to cultivate an environment characterized by ethical excellence in all research activities. This encompasses areas such as conflict of interest, mentor-mentee relationships, safety in research and research environments, collaborative research, peer review, data acquisition and analysis, secure data use and confidentiality, and responsible authorship and publication.
Aligned with our commitment and to meet the requirements of funding agencies, Stevens provides Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training and education. The objective is to actively engage researchers in exploring and adopting the best ethical practices. Notably, projects funded by agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) have specific mandates regarding RCR training. This commitment underscores our dedication to upholding the highest standards of integrity in research endeavors.
References:
NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 23-1) effective July 31, 2023
NSF Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Frequently Asked Questions August 16, 2010
NIH new guidance on the format, frequency, and timing of RCR instruction February 17, 2022
NIH Requirement for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research November 24, 2009
Research Integrity & Misconduct
In instances where individuals in the research community express concerns about research conducted outside the norms of behavior, such as data falsification, fabrication, plagiarism, or other unethical practices, ORIC is entrusted with addressing allegations of research misconduct.
Under the University Policy on Research Misconduct, “misconduct in research” is defined as:
Fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.
Fabrication – making up data or results and recording or reporting them
Falsification – manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data
or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research recordPlagiarism – the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results or words without giving
appropriate credit
Report Research Misconduct
Do you have a complaint or concern about research compliance? We want to hear from you!
Anonymous complaints can be filed using the university’s Compliance Helpline, accessible here but hosted through EthicsPoint’s secure servers.