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Abdelkreem E, Ibrahim ME, Elateek S, Abdelgawad F, Silverman HJ. Perceptions of the Research Integrity Climate in Egyptian Universities: A Survey Among Academic Researchers. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 2024:15562646241273097. [PMID: 39119646 DOI: 10.1177/15562646241273097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Problem: Investigations regarding perceptions of the institutional research integrity climate in the Arab Middle East remain underexplored. Subjects: We surveyed faculty from three Egyptian universities. Method: We utilized the Survey of Organizational Research Climate (SOuRCe) tool, which incorporates seven subscales that measure different aspects of the research integrity climate. Responses were obtained from a 5-point Likert scale. Findings: Of the 228 participants, the subscales 'Regulatory Quality' and '[Lack of] Integrity Inhibitors' received the highest mean scores, whereas the lowest scores pertained to 'Departmental Expectations,' 'Integrity Socialization,' and 'Responsible Conduct of Research´ indicating areas in need of improvement. Conclusions: Academic leaders should set fairer expectations for research and funding for their researchers, ensure junior researchers are socialized into research integrity practices, and promote effective RCR training and availability of RCR policies. We identify specific targeted interventions to enhance the research integrity climate within these institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsayed Abdelkreem
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
| | - Maha Emad Ibrahim
- Department of Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Sawsan Elateek
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Fatma Abdelgawad
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Henry J Silverman
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Armond ACV, Cobey KD, Moher D. Research Integrity definitions and challenges. J Clin Epidemiol 2024; 171:111367. [PMID: 38642717 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2024.111367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Research integrity is guided by a set of principles to ensure research reliability and rigor. It serves as a pillar to uphold society's trust in science and foster scientific progress. However, over the past 2 decades, a surge in research integrity concerns, including fraudulent research, reproducibility challenges, and questionable practices, has raised critical questions about the reliability of scientific outputs, particularly in biomedical research. In the biomedical sciences, any breaches in research integrity could potentially lead to a domino effect impacting patient care, medical interventions, and the broader implementation of healthcare policies. Addressing these breaches requires measures such as rigorous research methods, transparent reporting, and changing the research culture. Institutional support through clear guidelines, robust training, and mentorship is crucial to fostering a culture of research integrity. However, structural and institutional factors, including research incentives and recognition systems, play an important role in research behavior. Therefore, promoting research integrity demands a collective effort from all stakeholders to maintain public trust in the scientific community and ensure the reliability of science. Here we discuss some definitions and principles, the implications for biomedical sciences, and propose actionable steps to foster research integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Catharina V Armond
- Metaresearch and Open Science Program, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Canada.
| | - Kelly D Cobey
- Metaresearch and Open Science Program, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Canada; School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - David Moher
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; Centre for Journalology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
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De Peuter S, Dierickx K, Meganck M, Lerouge I, Vandevelde W, Storms G. Mismatch in perceptions of the quality of supervision and research data management as an area of concern: Results from a university-wide survey of the research integrity culture at a Belgian university. Account Res 2024:1-32. [PMID: 38374543 DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2024.2318245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Researchers of KU Leuven, a large Belgian university, were invited to complete a bespoke questionnaire assessing their attitudes toward research integrity and the local research culture, with specific emphasis on the supervision of junior researchers. A total of 7,353 invitations were sent via e-mail and 1,866 responses were collected (25.3% response rate), of which 1,723 responses are reported upon here. Some of the findings are relevant to the broader research community. Whereas supervisors evaluated their supervision of junior researchers almost unanimously as positive, fewer supervisees evaluated it as such. Data management emerged as an area of concern, both in terms of reviewing raw data and of data storage. More female than male professors emphasized open communication and supported their supervisees' professional development and personal well-being. At the same time, fewer female professors felt safe to speak up than male professors. Finally, researchers who obtained their master's degree outside Europe evaluated their supervision and KU Leuven's research culture more positively than researchers with a master's degree from KU Leuven. The results of the survey were fed back to the university's board and several bodies and served as input to update the university's research policy. Faculties and departments received a detailed report.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven De Peuter
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - K Dierickx
- Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - M Meganck
- Faculty of Engineering Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - I Lerouge
- Research Coordination Office, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - W Vandevelde
- Research Coordination Office, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - G Storms
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Liu X, Guo Y, Gao W, Xie Y, Zhao H, Du J. Current situation and influence factors of scientific integrity in China: A multicenter survey. Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs 2024; 11:100365. [PMID: 38304226 PMCID: PMC10831262 DOI: 10.1016/j.apjon.2023.100365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Cases of scientific misconduct have occurred frequently, especially in the field of medical research. We collected electronic questionnaires from 1257 medical staff in 43 cities and obtained a cross-sectional data set of their understanding of scientific integrity in research. This study aims to propose recommendations for establishing a mature oversight system for research integrity. Methods The study employed multiple regression analysis to explore the effect of different factors on the perception of four types of research integrity. Results Female participants had a higher understanding of project application integrity than men (P < 0.001). Participants in clinical departments had a lower understanding of project application integrity than those in nursing departments (clinical vs. nursing, P = 0.046). Participants with a junior college degree or below had a lower understanding than those who had a postgraduate degree and doctoral degree (junior college or below vs. postgraduate degree, P < 0.001; junior college or below vs. doctoral degree, P < 0.001). Conclusions We found that female, medical technology department, advanced education background, and advanced professional titles were significantly associated with a higher understanding of scientific integrity in research in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinqiao Liu
- School of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuxin Guo
- School of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wenjuan Gao
- Institute of Higher Education, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Xie
- Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Office of Academic Research, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Beijing, China
| | - Heling Zhao
- Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Office of Academic Research, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Du
- Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Office of Academic Research, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Beijing, China
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5
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Roje R, Reyes Elizondo A, Kaltenbrunner W, Buljan I, Marušić A. Factors influencing the promotion and implementation of research integrity in research performing and research funding organizations: A scoping review. Account Res 2023; 30:633-671. [PMID: 35531936 DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2022.2073819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Promoting and implementing research integrity is considered the joint responsibility and effort of multiple stakeholders in the research community. We conducted a scoping review and analyzed 236 research articles and gray literature publications from biomedical sciences, social sciences, natural sciences (including engineering), and humanities that dealt with the factors that may positively or negatively impact the promotion and implementation of research integrity. Critical appraisal of evidence was performed for studies describing interventions aimed at research integrity promotion in order to provide insight into the effectiveness of these interventions. The results of this scoping review provide a comprehensive taxonomy of factors with positive or negative impact and their relatedness to individual researchers, research performing and funding organizations, and the system of science. Moreover, the results show that efforts for fostering and promoting research integrity should be implemented at all three levels (researcher, institution, system) simultaneously to deliver greater adherence and implementation of research integrity practices. Although various educational interventions aiming at research integrity promotion exist, we were not able to conclude on the effectiveness of explored interventions due to the methodological quality issues in the studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rea Roje
- Department of Research in Biomedicine in Health, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
| | - Andrea Reyes Elizondo
- Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Wolfgang Kaltenbrunner
- Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ivan Buljan
- Department of Research in Biomedicine in Health, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
| | - Ana Marušić
- Department of Research in Biomedicine in Health, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
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6
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Haven T, Bouter L, Mennen L, Tijdink J. Superb supervision: A pilot study on training supervisors to convey responsible research practices onto their PhD candidates. Account Res 2023; 30:574-591. [PMID: 35475492 DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2022.2071153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
One way to strengthen research integrity, is through supervision. According to previous research, a supervisor should be well-versed in responsible research practices (RRPs) and possess the necessary interpersonal skills to convey RRPs. We developed a 3-day pilot training for PhD supervisors that combined RRPs and interpersonal skills. Our aim was to assess: perceptions regarding supervision skills (before and after the pilot) and participants' views on combining RRPs and interpersonal skills. Before and after the pilot, we sent the Research Supervision Quality Evaluation survey to the participating PhD supervisors and their PhD candidates. The pilot was concluded with a focus group where participants deliberated over the combination of training in interpersonal skills and RRPs and whether such training should become compulsory. Both supervisors and PhD candidates were more positive about the supervisor's interpersonal skills and the ability to foster RRPs after the training. Participants were enthusiastic about the training's dual focus but believed that making the training compulsory would be undesirable. The results highlight the potential of RRPs training for supervisors. However, caution is warranted, as the results regard a small sample of volunteering supervisors, underscoring the need for larger programs to foster responsible supervision that are rigorously evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamarinde Haven
- QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lex Bouter
- Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Louise Mennen
- Mennen Training & Consultancy, Haarlem, The Netherlands
| | - Joeri Tijdink
- Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Ethics, Law and Humanities, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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7
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Labib K, Evans N, Pizzolato D, Aubert Bonn N, Widdershoven G, Bouter L, Konach T, Langendam M, Dierickx K, Tijdink J. Co-creating Research Integrity Education Guidelines for Research Institutions. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2023; 29:28. [PMID: 37470823 PMCID: PMC10359202 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-023-00444-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
To foster research integrity (RI), research institutions should develop a continuous RI education approach, addressing various target groups. To support institutions to achieve this, we developed RI education guidelines together with RI experts and research administrators, exploring similarities and differences in recommendations across target groups, as well as recommendations about RI education using approaches other than formal RI training. We used an iterative co-creative process. We conducted four half-day online co-creation workshops with 16 participants in total, which were informed by the RI education evidence-base. In the first two workshops, participants generated ideas for guidelines' content, focusing on different target groups and various approaches to RI education. Based on this content we developed first drafts of the guidelines. Participants in the third and fourth workshop refined those drafts. We next organized a working group which further prioritized, reorganized, and optimized the content of the guidelines. We developed four guidelines on RI education focusing on (a) bachelor, master and PhD students; (b) post-doctorate and senior researchers; (c) other RI stakeholders; as well as (d) continuous RI education. Across guidelines, we recommend mandatory RI training; follow-up refresher training; informal discussions about RI; appropriate rewards and incentives for active participation in RI education; and evaluation of RI educational events. Our work provides experience-based co-created guidance to research institutions on what to consider when developing a successful RI education strategy. Each guideline is offered as a distinct, publicly available tool in our toolbox ( www.sops4ri.eu/toolbox ) which institutions can access, adapt and implement to meet their institution-specific RI education needs.Trial registration https://osf.io/zej5b .
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishma Labib
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Ethics, Law and Humanities, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Natalie Evans
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Ethics, Law and Humanities, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Pizzolato
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35, Box 7001, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Noémie Aubert Bonn
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Ethics, Law and Humanities, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Guy Widdershoven
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Ethics, Law and Humanities, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lex Bouter
- Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Teodora Konach
- Austrian Agency for Research Integrity, Landstraßer Hauptstraße 9, TOP 21, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Miranda Langendam
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kris Dierickx
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35, Box 7001, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Joeri Tijdink
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Ethics, Law and Humanities, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Li S, Xu W, Yin J. Cross-cultural differences in retracted publications of male and female from a global perspective. Scientometrics 2023; 128:3805-3826. [PMID: 37287880 PMCID: PMC10183084 DOI: 10.1007/s11192-023-04717-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this paper is threefold: (i) to identify the combinations of national culture dimensions that lead to high (or low) male or female retracted publications, (ii) to understand the role of personal trust as a relevant condition that combines with national culture dimensions to cause high (or low) male or female retraction, and (iii) to identify the differences in the configurations that lead to those outcomes. Based on framework of Hofstede's cross-cultural analysis and data from Hofstede Center, World Value, and Web of Science, this essay analyzes cultural complex causal relations between national culture and trust dimensions (conditions), and male and female retracted publications (outcomes) in 30 countries nationally and globally by fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. This research provides three major insights: (i) Cultural dimensions (power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation) and trust are not necessary conditions for both male and female to cause retractions, (ii) different levels of personal trust (high/low) combine with national cultural dimensions in order to produce different configurations that can lead to high or low retractions, and (iii) Each gender causes retractions in a similar or identical way, but each also owns its unique way. Finally, we provide effective policy recommendations to specific countries based on our critical conclusions and discussions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenghui Li
- School of Public Administration, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640 China
| | - Wenyan Xu
- School of Public Administration, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640 China
- South China University of Technology, Wushan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510641 Guangdong China
| | - Jingqi Yin
- School of Sociology, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200233 China
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Pizzolato D, Dierickx K. The Mentor's Role in Fostering Research Integrity Standards Among New Generations of Researchers: A Review of Empirical Studies. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2023; 29:19. [PMID: 37160826 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-023-00439-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Promoting research integrity practices among doctoral candidates and early career researchers is important for creating a stable and healthy research environment. In addition to teaching specific technical skills and knowledge, research supervisors and mentors inevitably convey research practices, both directly and indirectly. We conducted a scoping review to summarise the role of mentors in fostering research integrity practices, mentors' responsibilities and the role that institutions have in supporting good mentorship. We searched five different databases and included studies that used an empirical methodology. After searching, a total of 1199 articles were retrieved, of which 24 were eligible for analysis. After snowballing, a total of 35 empirical articles were selected. The review discusses various themes such as the importance of good mentorship, poor mentorship practices, virtues and qualities of mentors, responsibilities and activities of mentors, group mentoring and responsibilities of the institution in supporting good mentorship. This review demonstrates the importance of mentors instilling responsible research practices and attitudes, and promoting research integrity among their mentees. Mentors are responsible for providing explicit guidance and for acting as good role models. The review highlights how poor mentorship can have a bad impact on the research climate. In addition, the review highlights the important influence that institutions can have in supporting mentorship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Pizzolato
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, KU Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Kris Dierickx
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, KU Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
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Abdi S, Nemery B, Dierickx K. What criteria are used in the investigation of alleged cases of research misconduct? Account Res 2023; 30:109-131. [PMID: 34455868 DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2021.1973894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Research misconduct is a global concern. Considerable research has been devoted to guidance documents, but little attention has been paid to the empirical investigation of how (alleged) cases of research misconduct are addressed in real-life and which criteria are used to qualify a case as misconduct. Therefore, we performed a content analysis of 169 closed misconduct reports between 2007 and 2017 from Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium, representing three different types of governance of research misconduct. This study showed that when considering a case of (alleged) misconduct investigating committees assess 1) the objective evidence of research misconduct, 2) the subjective intent of the person subject to investigations, and 3) case specific circumstances. We found that research misconduct was established in 15% (9/61) of cases in Denmark; 16% (13/82) in the Netherlands and 38% (10/26) in Belgium. 57% (35/61) of cases in Denmark, 49% (40/82) in the Netherlands, and 12% (3/26) in Belgium were deemed outside of the scope of the investigating committee. Our analysis improves the understanding of how investigations of (alleged) misconduct are handled by the investigating committees in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shila Abdi
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Benoit Nemery
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kris Dierickx
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Pizzolato D, Dierickx K. Research Integrity Supervision Practices and Institutional Support: A Qualitative Study. JOURNAL OF ACADEMIC ETHICS 2022; 21:1-22. [PMID: 36573209 PMCID: PMC9772598 DOI: 10.1007/s10805-022-09468-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Scientific malpractice is not just due to researchers having bad intentions, but also due to a lack of education concerning research integrity practices. Besides the importance of institutionalised trainings on research integrity, research supervisors play an important role in translating what doctoral students learn during research integrity formal sessions. Supervision practices and role modelling influence directly and indirectly supervisees' attitudes and behaviour toward responsible research. Research supervisors can not be left alone in this effort. Research institutions are responsible for supporting supervisors in being more aware of their RI function, and in supporting responsible supervision practices to have a positive cascading effect on supervisees' research practices. We interviewed 22 European research supervisors to investigate how they perceive their role as research integrity trainers and their real-life supervision practices. Moreover, we investigated their points of view concerning the role of research institutions in supporting supervision practices. Although there are different commonalities in supervisors' perception of their research integrity-related role, differences are emphasised depending on the supervisors' characteristics such as academic domain, seniority, working country and gender. In addition, supervisors' way of mentoring depend also on supervisees' learning curve. Overall, all supervisors agreed on institutions playing an important role in support their supervision effort and practices. This study aims to be a starting point for better understanding research integrity supervision practices and the role of institutions in supporting them. Moreover, it puts the basis to further investigate differences in supervision practices depending on supervisors' characteristics. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10805-022-09468-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Pizzolato
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kris Dierickx
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
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12
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Armond ACV, Kakuk P. Perceptions of Research Integrity Climate in Hungarian Universities: Results from A Survey among Academic Researchers. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2022; 28:30. [PMID: 35771286 PMCID: PMC9245862 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-022-00382-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Research integrity climate is an important factor that influences an individual's behavior. A strong research integrity culture can lead to better research practices and responsible conduct of research (RCR). Therefore, investigations on organizational climate can be a valuable tool to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each group and develop targeted initiatives. This study aims to assess the perceptions on integrity climate in three universities in Hungary. A cross-sectional study was conducted with PhD students, postdocs, and professors from three Hungarian universities. The survey included demographic questions, such as gender, age, scientific field, academic rank, and the Survey of Organizational Research Climate (SOURCE). A total of 432 participants completed the survey. Our results show that postdocs and assistant professors perceived integrity climate more negatively than PhD students and full professors in every survey scale. Contrarily, PhD students perceive more positively than the other groups. Disciplinary differences show that researchers in the Biomedical sciences perceive regulatory bodies to be fairer when evaluating their projects than those in the Natural sciences. Natural sciences also perceive more negatively how the department values integrity when compared to Humanities. Humanities perceive more positively Advisor/Advisee Relations than Biomedical Sciences. Our results suggest that institutions should pay more attention to early career researchers, especially insecure and temporary positions like postdocs and assistant professors. They should provide RCR resources, socialize them in RCR, and set more reasonable expectations. Moreover, department leaders should develop initiatives to foster better integrity climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Catharina Vieira Armond
- Department of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Péter Kakuk
- Center for Ethics and Law in Biomedicine, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
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Pizzolato D, Dierickx K. Reverse mentoring to enhance research integrity climate. BMC Res Notes 2022; 15:209. [PMID: 35715865 PMCID: PMC9205068 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-022-06098-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Mentors have the responsibility to guide their mentees through academic and scientific challenges that they might encounter during their educational and professional development. In embodying the role of mentors, senior academics are also expected to transmit knowledge and competencies on the topic of research integrity to their junior colleagues. However, senior academics do not always succeed in transmitting responsible research practices and enhancing the research integrity climate. The implementation of the concept of reverse mentoring can be an option to overcome this issue. Different from traditional mentoring, the flow of information is reversed, going from juniors to seniors. Reverse mentoring, as a developmental partnership between mentees and mentors, has been already used successfully within the private sector and in medical education. In times in which most universities invest resources in organizing dedicated research integrity trainings for PhD candidates and junior researchers, it would be valuable to consider reverse mentoring for fostering responsible research practices and enhancing the research integrity climate. PhD candidates and junior researchers can join and fully contribute to the endeavor of enhancing the research integrity climate by co-creating, together with their senior colleagues a new-shared learning environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Pizzolato
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, KU Leuven, 3000 Louvain, Belgium
| | - Kris Dierickx
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, KU Leuven, 3000 Louvain, Belgium
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14
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Gopalakrishna G, Wicherts JM, Vink G, Stoop I, van den Akker OR, ter Riet G, Bouter LM. Prevalence of responsible research practices among academics in The Netherlands. F1000Res 2022; 11:471. [PMID: 36128558 PMCID: PMC9478502 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.110664.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Traditionally, research integrity studies have focused on research misbehaviors and their explanations. Over time, attention has shifted towards preventing questionable research practices and promoting responsible ones. However, data on the prevalence of responsible research practices, especially open methods, open codes and open data and their underlying associative factors, remains scarce. Methods: We conducted a web-based anonymized questionnaire, targeting all academic researchers working at or affiliated to a university or university medical center in The Netherlands, to investigate the prevalence and potential explanatory factors of 11 responsible research practices. Results: A total of 6,813 academics completed the survey, the results of which show that prevalence of responsible practices differs substantially across disciplines and ranks, with 99 percent avoiding plagiarism in their work but less than 50 percent pre-registering a research protocol. Arts and humanities scholars as well as PhD candidates and junior researchers engaged less often in responsible research practices. Publication pressure negatively affected responsible practices, while mentoring, scientific norms subscription and funding pressure stimulated them. Conclusions: Understanding the prevalence of responsible research practices across disciplines and ranks, as well as their associated explanatory factors, can help to systematically address disciplinary- and academic rank-specific obstacles, and thereby facilitate responsible conduct of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gowri Gopalakrishna
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jelte M. Wicherts
- Department of Methodology and Statistics, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Gerko Vink
- Department of Methodology and Statistics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ineke Stoop
- The Netherlands Institute for Social Research, Den Haag, The Netherlands
| | - Olmo R. van den Akker
- Department of Methodology and Statistics, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Gerben ter Riet
- Center of Expertise Urban Vitality, Faculty of Health, Amsterdam University of Applied Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lex M. Bouter
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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15
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Gopalakrishna G, Wicherts JM, Vink G, Stoop I, van den Akker OR, ter Riet G, Bouter LM. Prevalence of responsible research practices among academics in The Netherlands. F1000Res 2022; 11:471. [PMID: 36128558 PMCID: PMC9478502 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.110664.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Traditionally, research integrity studies have focused on research misbehaviors and their explanations. Over time, attention has shifted towards preventing questionable research practices and promoting responsible ones. However, data on the prevalence of responsible research practices, especially open methods, open codes and open data and their underlying associative factors, remains scarce. Methods: We conducted a web-based anonymized questionnaire, targeting all academic researchers working at or affiliated to a university or university medical center in The Netherlands, to investigate the prevalence and potential explanatory factors of 11 responsible research practices. Results: A total of 6,813 academics completed the survey, the results of which show that prevalence of responsible practices differs substantially across disciplines and ranks, with 99 percent avoiding plagiarism in their work but less than 50 percent pre-registering a research protocol. Arts and humanities scholars as well as PhD candidates and junior researchers engaged less often in responsible research practices. Publication pressure negatively affected responsible practices, while mentoring, scientific norms subscription and funding pressure stimulated them. Conclusions: Understanding the prevalence of responsible research practices across disciplines and ranks, as well as their associated explanatory factors, can help to systematically address disciplinary- and academic rank-specific obstacles, and thereby facilitate responsible conduct of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gowri Gopalakrishna
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jelte M. Wicherts
- Department of Methodology and Statistics, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Gerko Vink
- Department of Methodology and Statistics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ineke Stoop
- The Netherlands Institute for Social Research, Den Haag, The Netherlands
| | - Olmo R. van den Akker
- Department of Methodology and Statistics, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Gerben ter Riet
- Center of Expertise Urban Vitality, Faculty of Health, Amsterdam University of Applied Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lex M. Bouter
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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16
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Gopalakrishna G, ter Riet G, Vink G, Stoop I, Wicherts JM, Bouter LM. Prevalence of questionable research practices, research misconduct and their potential explanatory factors: A survey among academic researchers in The Netherlands. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263023. [PMID: 35171921 PMCID: PMC8849616 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prevalence of research misconduct, questionable research practices (QRPs) and their associations with a range of explanatory factors has not been studied sufficiently among academic researchers. The National Survey on Research Integrity targeted all disciplinary fields and academic ranks in the Netherlands. It included questions about engagement in fabrication, falsification and 11 QRPs over the previous three years, and 12 explanatory factor scales. We ensured strict identity protection and used the randomized response method for questions on research misconduct. 6,813 respondents completed the survey. Prevalence of fabrication was 4.3% (95% CI: 2.9, 5.7) and of falsification 4.2% (95% CI: 2.8, 5.6). Prevalence of QRPs ranged from 0.6% (95% CI: 0.5, 0.9) to 17.5% (95% CI: 16.4, 18.7) with 51.3% (95% CI: 50.1, 52.5) of respondents engaging frequently in at least one QRP. Being a PhD candidate or junior researcher increased the odds of frequently engaging in at least one QRP, as did being male. Scientific norm subscription (odds ratio (OR) 0.79; 95% CI: 0.63, 1.00) and perceived likelihood of detection by reviewers (OR 0.62, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.88) were associated with engaging in less research misconduct. Publication pressure was associated with more often engaging in one or more QRPs frequently (OR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.30). We found higher prevalence of misconduct than earlier surveys. Our results suggest that greater emphasis on scientific norm subscription, strengthening reviewers in their role as gatekeepers of research quality and curbing the "publish or perish" incentive system promotes research integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gowri Gopalakrishna
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Gerben ter Riet
- Faculty of Health, Center of Expertise Urban Vitality Amsterdam University of Applied Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gerko Vink
- Department of Methodology & Statistics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ineke Stoop
- The Netherlands Institute for Social Research, Den Haag, The Netherlands
| | - Jelte M. Wicherts
- Department of Methodology and Statistics, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Lex M. Bouter
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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17
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Solomon ED, English T, Wroblewski M, DuBois JM, Antes AL. Assessing the climate for research ethics in labs: Development and validation of a brief measure. Account Res 2022; 29:2-17. [PMID: 33517782 PMCID: PMC8333187 DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2021.1881891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The environment researchers work in influences their ethical decisions and behavior. A "climate" for research ethics in a research lab exists when members of the lab perceive that the group values and is committed to principles of research ethics. In this study, we aimed to develop a short, reliable and valid measure assessing perceptions of climate for research ethics at the lab level. The resulting measure, Lab Climate for Research Ethics, was developed using standard scale development guidelines. In a large sample of postdoctoral researchers (N = 570), we found preliminary evidence that the new measure has adequate internal consistency reliability. It was also correlated with an existing measure of climate for research ethics and was not correlated with social desirability, demonstrating evidence of construct validity. The new measure can be used in a variety of contexts, including research administrators seeking information about climate within labs across an institution and researchers who study lab environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin D. Solomon
- Bioethics Research Center, Division of General Medical Sciences, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tammy English
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Matthew Wroblewski
- Bioethics Research Center, Division of General Medical Sciences, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - James M. DuBois
- Bioethics Research Center, Division of General Medical Sciences, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Alison L. Antes
- Bioethics Research Center, Division of General Medical Sciences, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Campus Box 8005, 4523 Clayton Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110
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18
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Kaiser M, Drivdal L, Hjellbrekke J, Ingierd H, Rekdal OB. Questionable Research Practices and Misconduct Among Norwegian Researchers. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2021; 28:2. [PMID: 34932191 PMCID: PMC8692305 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-021-00351-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This article presents results from the national survey conducted in 2018 for the project Research Integrity in Norway (RINO). A total of 31,206 questionnaires were sent out to Norwegian researchers by e-mail, and 7291 responses were obtained. In this paper, we analyse the survey data to determine attitudes towards and the prevalence of fabrication, falsification and plagiarism (FFP) and contrast this with attitudes towards and the prevalence of the more questionable research practices (QRPs) surveyed. Our results show a relatively low percentage of self-reported FFPs (0.2-0.3%), while the number of researchers who report having committed one of the QRPs during the last three years reached a troublesome 40%. The article also presents a ranking of the perceived severity of FFP and QRPs among Norwegian researchers. Overall, there is a widespread normative consensus, where FFP is considered more troublesome than QRPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Kaiser
- Center for the Study of the Sciences and Humanities, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Laura Drivdal
- Center for the Study of the Sciences and Humanities, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Helene Ingierd
- The National Committees for Research Ethics in Norway, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole Bjørn Rekdal
- Department of Welfare and Participation, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
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19
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Zhuang H, Huang TY, Acuna DE. Graphical integrity issues in open access publications: Detection and patterns of proportional ink violations. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009650. [PMID: 34898598 PMCID: PMC8700024 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Academic graphs are essential for communicating complex scientific ideas and results. To ensure that these graphs truthfully reflect underlying data and relationships, visualization researchers have proposed several principles to guide the graph creation process. However, the extent of violations of these principles in academic publications is unknown. In this work, we develop a deep learning-based method to accurately measure violations of the proportional ink principle (AUC = 0.917), which states that the size of shaded areas in graphs should be consistent with their corresponding quantities. We apply our method to analyze a large sample of bar charts contained in 300K figures from open access publications. Our results estimate that 5% of bar charts contain proportional ink violations. Further analysis reveals that these graphical integrity issues are significantly more prevalent in some research fields, such as psychology and computer science, and some regions of the globe. Additionally, we find no temporal and seniority trends in violations. Finally, apart from openly releasing our large annotated dataset and method, we discuss how computational research integrity could be part of peer-review and the publication processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhuang
- School of Information Studies, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
| | - Tzu-Yang Huang
- School of Information Studies, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
| | - Daniel E. Acuna
- School of Information Studies, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
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20
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Zahari AI, Said J, Arshad R. Examining the Components of Integrity. Integr Psychol Behav Sci 2021; 56:234-265. [PMID: 34251611 DOI: 10.1007/s12124-021-09626-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to understand the underlying components of integrity and examine its value. The approach is through identifying and expanding on the common values of integrity such as honesty, conscientiousness and principle. There is a need to find a common ground in the sense of giving specific values towards integrity. Current works of literature indicate that there is a gap in assigning the core values of integrity. This information was collected through a semi-structured qualitative interview with 15 experienced participants from a wide range of background and has extensive experience with the fields of integrity. Such samples are from academic experts, government practitioners, representatives of government agencies, and non-governmental organisations. The identified components are then projected and validated through this list of participants. One of the objectives of this study is to understand the components of integrity through the life experience of people who are commonly associated with the areas of "integrity". The common core values of integrity was identified through a process of systematic literature review and summarised in this study. Content analysis of the data identified multiple dimensions and sub-dimensions on integrity. The findings suggest that integrity is more than being honest, conscientious and with principle as other factors are determining factors of being a component of integrity. Values such as responsibility, sincerity, consistency, compliance, conscious, pride, social norms, ruling policies and awareness play a major role in the value of integrity. The paper builds a model of integrity components based on these interpreted values. This paper contributes to the growing interest in the concept of integrity and attempts to streamline the central components of integrity. The studies of integrity are timely contemporary issues which deserve scientific attention. The building of sophisticated models and empirical investigations in their own right are opportunities for society to improve on their understandings of human behaviour. The integrity model provides an opportunity and useful addition for governments, private institutions, and individuals to improve each of their core values towards integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afzal Izzaz Zahari
- Accounting Research Institute, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450, Shah Alam, Malaysia.
| | - Jamaliah Said
- Accounting Research Institute, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450, Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - Roshayani Arshad
- Accounting Research Institute, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450, Shah Alam, Malaysia
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21
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Tijdink JK, Horbach SPJM, Nuijten MB, O'Neill G. Towards a Research Agenda for Promoting Responsible Research Practices. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 2021; 16:450-460. [PMID: 34037490 PMCID: PMC8458678 DOI: 10.1177/15562646211018916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This opinion piece aims to inform future research funding programs on responsible research practices (RRP) based on three specific objectives: (1) to give a sketch of the current international discussion on responsible research practices (RRPs); (2) to give an overview of current initiatives and already obtained results regarding RRP; and (3) to give an overview of potential future needs for research on RRP. In this opinion piece, we have used seven iterative methodological steps (including literature review, ranking, and sorting exercises) to create the proposed research agenda. We identified six main themes that we believe need attention in future research: (1) responsible evaluation of research and researchers, (2) the influence of open science and transparency on RRP, (3) research on responsible mentoring, supervision, and role modeling, (4) the effect of education and training on RRP, (5) checking for reproducibility, and (6) responsible and fair peer review. These themes have in common that they address aspects of research that are mostly on the level of the scientific system, more than on the level of the individual researcher. Some current initiatives are already gathering substantial empirical evidence to start filling these gaps. We believe that with sufficient support from all relevant stakeholders, more progress can be made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joeri K Tijdink
- Department of Ethics, Law and Humanities, 1209Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Philosophy, 404761Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Serge P J M Horbach
- Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Center for Science and Technology Studies, 168095Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Michèle B Nuijten
- Department of Methodology and Statistics, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, 120694Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Gareth O'Neill
- Technopolis Group, Brussels, Belgium.,Leiden University Centre for Linguistics, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
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22
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Haven T, Tijdink J, Martinson B, Bouter L, Oort F. Explaining variance in perceived research misbehavior: results from a survey among academic researchers in Amsterdam. Res Integr Peer Rev 2021; 6:7. [PMID: 33941288 PMCID: PMC8094603 DOI: 10.1186/s41073-021-00110-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Concerns about research misbehavior in academic science have sparked interest in the factors that may explain research misbehavior. Often three clusters of factors are distinguished: individual factors, climate factors and publication factors. Our research question was: to what extent can individual, climate and publication factors explain the variance in frequently perceived research misbehaviors? METHODS From May 2017 until July 2017, we conducted a survey study among academic researchers in Amsterdam. The survey included three measurement instruments that we previously reported individual results of and here we integrate these findings. RESULTS One thousand two hundred ninety-eight researchers completed the survey (response rate: 17%). Results showed that individual, climate and publication factors combined explained 34% of variance in perceived frequency of research misbehavior. Individual factors explained 7%, climate factors explained 22% and publication factors 16%. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the perceptions of the research climate play a substantial role in explaining variance in research misbehavior. This suggests that efforts to improve departmental norms might have a salutary effect on behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamarinde Haven
- Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Joeri Tijdink
- Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Ethics, Law and Humanities, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Brian Martinson
- Department of Research, HealthPartners Institute, 8170 33rd Ave. S., Bloomington, MN, 55425, USA.,Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Lex Bouter
- Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frans Oort
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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23
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Armond ACV, Gordijn B, Lewis J, Hosseini M, Bodnár JK, Holm S, Kakuk P. A scoping review of the literature featuring research ethics and research integrity cases. BMC Med Ethics 2021; 22:50. [PMID: 33931043 PMCID: PMC8086087 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-021-00620-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The areas of Research Ethics (RE) and Research Integrity (RI) are rapidly evolving. Cases of research misconduct, other transgressions related to RE and RI, and forms of ethically questionable behaviors have been frequently published. The objective of this scoping review was to collect RE and RI cases, analyze their main characteristics, and discuss how these cases are represented in the scientific literature. METHODS The search included cases involving a violation of, or misbehavior, poor judgment, or detrimental research practice in relation to a normative framework. A search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, JSTOR, Ovid, and Science Direct in March 2018, without language or date restriction. Data relating to the articles and the cases were extracted from case descriptions. RESULTS A total of 14,719 records were identified, and 388 items were included in the qualitative synthesis. The papers contained 500 case descriptions. After applying the eligibility criteria, 238 cases were included in the analysis. In the case analysis, fabrication and falsification were the most frequently tagged violations (44.9%). The non-adherence to pertinent laws and regulations, such as lack of informed consent and REC approval, was the second most frequently tagged violation (15.7%), followed by patient safety issues (11.1%) and plagiarism (6.9%). 80.8% of cases were from the Medical and Health Sciences, 11.5% from the Natural Sciences, 4.3% from Social Sciences, 2.1% from Engineering and Technology, and 1.3% from Humanities. Paper retraction was the most prevalent sanction (45.4%), followed by exclusion from funding applications (35.5%). CONCLUSIONS Case descriptions found in academic journals are dominated by discussions regarding prominent cases and are mainly published in the news section of journals. Our results show that there is an overrepresentation of biomedical research cases over other scientific fields compared to its proportion in scientific publications. The cases mostly involve fabrication, falsification, and patient safety issues. This finding could have a significant impact on the academic representation of misbehaviors. The predominance of fabrication and falsification cases might diverge the attention of the academic community from relevant but less visible violations, and from recently emerging forms of misbehaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Catharina Vieira Armond
- Department of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Móricz Zsigmond krt. 22. III. Apartman Diákszálló, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary.
| | - Bert Gordijn
- Institute of Ethics, School of Theology, Philosophy and Music, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jonathan Lewis
- Institute of Ethics, School of Theology, Philosophy and Music, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mohammad Hosseini
- Institute of Ethics, School of Theology, Philosophy and Music, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - János Kristóf Bodnár
- Department of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Móricz Zsigmond krt. 22. III. Apartman Diákszálló, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Soren Holm
- Centre for Social Ethics and Policy, School of Law, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Center for Medical Ethics, HELSAM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Péter Kakuk
- Center for Ethics and Law in Biomedicine, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
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24
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Feenstra RA, Delgado López-Cózar E, Pallarés-Domínguez D. Research Misconduct in the Fields of Ethics and Philosophy: Researchers' Perceptions in Spain. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2021; 27:1. [PMID: 33492516 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-021-00278-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Empirical studies have revealed a disturbing prevalence of research misconduct in a wide variety of disciplines, although not, to date, in the areas of ethics and philosophy. This study aims to provide empirical evidence on perceptions of how serious a problem research misconduct is in these two disciplines in Spain, particularly regarding the effects that the model used to evaluate academics' research performance may have on their ethical behaviour. The methodological triangulation applied in the study combines a questionnaire, a debate at the annual meeting of scientific association, and in-depth interviews. Of the 541 questionnaires sent out, 201 responses were obtained (37.1% of the total sample), with a significant difference in the participation of researchers in philosophy (30.5%) and in ethics (52.8%); 26 researchers took part in the debate and 14 interviews were conducted. The questionnaire results reveal that 91.5% of the respondents considered research misconduct to be on the rise; 63.2% considered at least three of the fraudulent practices referred to in the study to be commonplace, and 84.1% identified two or more such practices. The researchers perceived a high prevalence of duplicate publication (66.5%) and self-plagiarism (59.0%), use of personal influence (57.5%) and citation manipulation (44.0%), in contrast to a low perceived incidence of data falsification or fabrication (10.0%). The debate and the interviews corroborated these data. Researchers associated the spread of these misconducts with the research evaluation model applied in Spain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramón A Feenstra
- Department of Philosophy and Sociology, Facultad de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales, Universitat Jaume I de Castellón, Avd/Sos Baynat s/n, 12071, Castellón de la plana, Spain.
| | - Emilio Delgado López-Cózar
- Department of Information and Communication, Facultad de Comunicación y Documentación, Universidad de Granada, Calle Campus De Cartuja, s/n, 18011, Granada, Spain
| | - Daniel Pallarés-Domínguez
- Department of Philosophy and Sociology, Facultad de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales, Universitat Jaume I de Castellón, Avd/Sos Baynat s/n, 12071, Castellón de la plana, Spain
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25
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Systemic Explanations of Scientific Misconduct: Provoked by Spectacular Cases of Norm Violation? JOURNAL OF ACADEMIC ETHICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10805-020-09389-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIn the past two decades, individual explanations of scientific misconduct (‘bad apples’) have increasingly given way to systemic explanations (‘bad systems’). Where did this interest in systemic factors (publication pressure, competition for research funding) come from? Given that research ethicists often present their interventions as responses to scientific misconduct, this article tests the hypothesis that these systemic explanations were triggered by high-visibility cases of scientific norm violation. It does so by examining why Dutch scientists in 2011 explained Diederik Stapel’s grand-scale data fabrication largely in systemic terms, whereas only fifteen years earlier, in the René Diekstra affair (1996), such explanations had been close to absent. Drawing on a wealth of historical sources, the article suggests that cases like Stapel’s as such do not explain why early 21st-century commentators exchanged individual explanations for systemic ones. Only against the background of an existing discourse of criticism of the science system, developed in the 1990s and 2000s in response to rapidly increasing competition for research funding, could the Stapel affair achieve notoriety as an example of how systemic factors provoke bad conduct.
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26
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Simons A, Riedel N, Toelch U, Hendriks B, Müller-Ohlraun S, Liebenau L, Ambrasat J, Dirnagl U, Reinhart M. Assessing the Organizational Climate for Translational Research with a New Survey Tool. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2020; 26:2893-2910. [PMID: 32592136 PMCID: PMC7755863 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-020-00234-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Promoting translational research as a means to overcoming chasms in the translation of knowledge through successive fields of research from basic science to public health impacts and back is a central challenge for research managers and policymakers. Organizational leaders need to assess baseline conditions, identify areas needing improvement, and to judge the impact of specific initiatives to sustain or improve translational research practices at their institutions. Currently, there is a lack of such an assessment tool addressing the specific context of translational biomedical research. To close this gap, we have developed a new survey for assessing the organizational climate for translational research. This self-assessment tool measures employees' perceptions of translational research climate and underlying research practices in organizational environments and builds on the established Survey of Organizational Research Climate, assessing research integrity. Using this tool, we show that scientists at a large university hospital (Charité Berlin) perceive translation as a central and important component of their work. Importantly, local resources and direct support are main contributing factors for the practical implementation of translation into their own research practice. We identify and discuss potential leverage points for an improvement of research climate to foster successful translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arno Simons
- German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW), Schützenstraße 6A, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
- Department of Social Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Nico Riedel
- QUEST Center for Transforming Biomedical Research, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulf Toelch
- QUEST Center for Transforming Biomedical Research, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Barbara Hendriks
- Department of Social Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Lisa Liebenau
- QUEST Center for Transforming Biomedical Research, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens Ambrasat
- German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW), Schützenstraße 6A, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrich Dirnagl
- QUEST Center for Transforming Biomedical Research, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Reinhart
- Department of Social Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Viđak M, Buljan I, Tokalić R, Lunić A, Hren D, Marušić A. Perception of Organizational Ethical Climate by University Staff and Students in Medicine and Humanities: A Cross Sectional Study. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2020; 26:3437-3454. [PMID: 33006747 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-020-00270-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We assessed students' and employees' perception of ethical climate at a university school of medicine compared to that of social sciences and humanities, as well as temporal changes in the employees' perception of ethical climate. We also explored potential predictors of ethical climate, including moral foundations. This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted at the University of Split School of Medicine and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, in Croatia, from April to September 2019. We used 36-item Ethical Climate Questionnaire and 22-item Moral Foundation Questionnaire to survey employees, senior and doctoral students. We collected responses using ballot boxes as well as online survey. We collected 449 complete responses (response rate 36.8%). The dominant ethical climates at two schools were "Company rules and procedures" and "Laws and professional codes". We compared our results with a study conducted in 2012 and found that the perception of ethical climate had not changed dramatically in last 8 years. Ethical climate, or shared social and work-related behaviours, does not seem to change in these institutions even when students and staff are included with faculty in surveys. We provide further discussion of why this seems to be the case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marin Viđak
- Department in Research in Biomedicine and Health, School of Medicine, University of Split, Šoltanska 2, Split, Croatia.
| | - Ivan Buljan
- Department in Research in Biomedicine and Health, School of Medicine, University of Split, Šoltanska 2, Split, Croatia
| | - Ružica Tokalić
- Department in Research in Biomedicine and Health, School of Medicine, University of Split, Šoltanska 2, Split, Croatia
| | - Anita Lunić
- Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Split, Split, Croatia
| | - Darko Hren
- Chair of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Split, Split, Croatia
| | - Ana Marušić
- Department in Research in Biomedicine and Health, School of Medicine, University of Split, Šoltanska 2, Split, Croatia
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Reisig MD, Holtfreter K, Berzofsky ME. Assessing the perceived prevalence of research fraud among faculty at research-intensive universities in the USA. Account Res 2020; 27:457-475. [DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2020.1772060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael D. Reisig
- School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Kristy Holtfreter
- School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Marcus E. Berzofsky
- Division of Statistics and Data Science, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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29
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Adversarial alignment enables competing models to engage in cooperative theory building toward cumulative science. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:7561-7567. [PMID: 32170010 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1906720117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Crises in science concern not only methods, statistics, and results but also, theory development. Beyond the indispensable refinement of tools and procedures, resolving crises would also benefit from a deeper understanding of the concepts and processes guiding research. Usually, theories compete, and some lose, incentivizing destruction of seemingly opposing views. This does not necessarily contribute to accumulating insights, and it may incur collateral damage (e.g., impairing cognitive processes and collegial relations). To develop a more constructive model, we built on adversarial collaboration, which integrates incompatible results into agreed-on new empirical research to test competing hypotheses [D. Kahneman, Am. Psychol. 58, 723-730 (2003)]. Applying theory and evidence from the behavioral sciences, we address the group dynamic complexities of adversarial interactions between scientists. We illustrate the added value of considering these in an "adversarial alignment" that addressed competing conceptual frameworks from five different theories of social evaluation. Negotiating a joint framework required two preconditions and several guidelines. First, we reframed our interactions from competitive rivalry to cooperative pursuit of a joint goal, and second, we assumed scientific competence and good intentions, enabling cooperation toward that goal. Then, we applied five rules for successful multiparty negotiations: 1) leveling the playing field, 2) capitalizing on curiosity, 3) producing measurable progress, 4) working toward mutual gain, and 5) being aware of the downside alternative. Together, these guidelines can encourage others to create conditions that allow for theoretical alignments and develop cumulative science.
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Huybers T, Greene B, Rohr DH. Academic research integrity: Exploring researchers’ perceptions of responsibilities and enablers. Account Res 2020; 27:146-177. [DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2020.1732824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Bronwyn Greene
- Division of Academic Conduct & Integrity, UNSW – Sydney, Australia
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Haven TL, Tijdink JK, Pasman HR, Widdershoven G, Ter Riet G, Bouter LM. Researchers' perceptions of research misbehaviours: a mixed methods study among academic researchers in Amsterdam. Res Integr Peer Rev 2019; 4:25. [PMID: 31819806 PMCID: PMC6886174 DOI: 10.1186/s41073-019-0081-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is increasing evidence that research misbehaviour is common, especially the minor forms. Previous studies on research misbehaviour primarily focused on biomedical and social sciences, and evidence from natural sciences and humanities is scarce. We investigated what academic researchers in Amsterdam perceived to be detrimental research misbehaviours in their respective disciplinary fields. Methods We used an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. First, survey participants from four disciplinary fields rated perceived frequency and impact of research misbehaviours from a list of 60. We then combined these into a top five ranking of most detrimental research misbehaviours at the aggregate level, stratified by disciplinary field. Second, in focus group interviews, participants from each academic rank and disciplinary field were asked to reflect on the most relevant research misbehaviours for their disciplinary field. We used participative ranking methodology inducing participants to obtain consensus on which research misbehaviours are most detrimental. Results In total, 1080 researchers completed the survey (response rate: 15%) and 61 participated in the focus groups (3 three to 8 eight researchers per group). Insufficient supervision consistently ranked highest in the survey regardless of disciplinary field and the focus groups confirmed this. Important themes in the focus groups were insufficient supervision, sloppy science, and sloppy peer review. Biomedical researchers and social science researchers were primarily concerned with sloppy science and insufficient supervision. Natural sciences and humanities researchers discussed sloppy reviewing and theft of ideas by reviewers, a form of plagiarism. Focus group participants further provided examples of particular research misbehaviours they were confronted with and how these impacted their work as a researcher. Conclusion We found insufficient supervision and various forms of sloppy science to score highly on aggregate detrimental impact throughout all disciplinary fields. Researchers from the natural sciences and humanities also perceived nepotism to be of major impact on the aggregate level. The natural sciences regarded fabrication of data of major impact as well. The focus group interviews helped to understand how researchers interpreted ‘insufficient supervision’. Besides, the focus group participants added insight into sloppy science in practice. Researchers from the natural sciences and humanities added new research misbehaviours concerning their disciplinary fields to the list, such as the stealing of ideas before publication. This improves our understanding of research misbehaviour beyond the social and biomedical fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamarinde L Haven
- 1Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joeri K Tijdink
- 1Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,2Department of Medical Humanities, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, VUmc, De Boelelaan 1089a, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - H Roeline Pasman
- 3Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Guy Widdershoven
- 2Department of Medical Humanities, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, VUmc, De Boelelaan 1089a, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gerben Ter Riet
- 4Faculty of Health (Urban Vitality), Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Tafelbergweg 51, 1105 BD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,5Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lex M Bouter
- 1Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,6Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1089a, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Haven TL, Bouter LM, Smulders YM, Tijdink JK. Perceived publication pressure in Amsterdam: Survey of all disciplinary fields and academic ranks. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0217931. [PMID: 31216293 PMCID: PMC6583945 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Publications determine to a large extent the possibility to stay in academia ("publish or perish"). While some pressure to publish may incentivise high quality research, too much publication pressure is likely to have detrimental effects on both the scientific enterprise and on individual researchers. Our research question was: What is the level of perceived publication pressure in the four academic institutions in Amsterdam and does the pressure to publish differ between academic ranks and disciplinary fields? Investigating researchers in Amsterdam with the revised Publication Pressure Questionnaire, we find that a negative attitude towards the current publication climate is present across academic ranks and disciplinary fields. Postdocs and assistant professors (M = 3.42) perceive the greatest publication stress and PhD-students (M = 2.44) perceive a significant lack of resources to relieve publication stress. Results indicate the need for a healthier publication climate where the quality and integrity of research is rewarded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamarinde L. Haven
- Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Lex M. Bouter
- Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Yvo M. Smulders
- Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Joeri K. Tijdink
- Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Humanities, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
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Haven TL, de Goede MEE, Tijdink JK, Oort FJ. Personally perceived publication pressure: revising the Publication Pressure Questionnaire (PPQ) by using work stress models. Res Integr Peer Rev 2019; 4:7. [PMID: 31007948 PMCID: PMC6454769 DOI: 10.1186/s41073-019-0066-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The emphasis on impact factors and the quantity of publications intensifies competition between researchers. This competition was traditionally considered an incentive to produce high-quality work, but there are unwanted side-effects of this competition like publication pressure. To measure the effect of publication pressure on researchers, the Publication Pressure Questionnaire (PPQ) was developed. Upon using the PPQ, some issues came to light that motivated a revision. Method We constructed two new subscales based on work stress models using the facet method. We administered the revised PPQ (PPQr) to a convenience sample together with the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Work Design Questionnaire (WDQ). To assess which items best measured publication pressure, we carried out a principal component analysis (PCA). Reliability was sufficient when Cronbach's alpha > 0.7. Finally, we administered the PPQr in a larger, independent sample of researchers to check the reliability of the revised version. Results Three components were identified as 'stress', 'attitude', and 'resources'. We selected 3 × 6 = 18 items with high loadings in the three-component solution. Based on the convenience sample, Cronbach's alphas were 0.83 for stress, 0.80 for attitude, and 0.76 for resources. We checked the validity of the PPQr by inspecting the correlations with the MBI and the WDQ. Stress correlated 0.62 with MBI's emotional exhaustion. Resources correlated 0.50 with relevant WDQ subscales. To assess the internal structure of the PPQr in the independent reliability sample, we conducted the principal component analysis. The three-component solution explains 50% of the variance. Cronbach's alphas were 0.80, 0.78, and 0.75 for stress, attitude, and resources, respectively. Conclusion We conclude that the PPQr is a valid and reliable instrument to measure publication pressure in academic researchers from all disciplinary fields. The PPQr strongly relates to burnout and could also be beneficial for policy makers and research institutions to assess the degree of publication pressure in their institute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamarinde L Haven
- 1Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marije Esther Evalien de Goede
- Centre for Applied Research on Economics & Management - CAREM, Postbus 814, 1000 AV Amsterdam / Wibautstraat 3b, 1091 GH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joeri K Tijdink
- 1Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Ethics, University Medical Center Amsterdam, location VUmc, De Boelelaan, 1007 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frans Jeroen Oort
- 4Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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