Research integrity
At the ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú, we are committed to fostering a culture of excellence, openness, and accountability in all areas of research. Central to this is research integrity - the principles and behaviours that underpin the trustworthiness of the research we conduct and support.
What is research integrity?
Research integrity refers to both the reliability of research results, and the trustworthiness of researchers. It is a commitment to carry out research in a way that is honest, transparent, rigorous, and respectful. It means ensuring that research is:
- Conducted ethically and in line with legal and professional standards.
- Reported accurately and with enough information for the results to be checked or repeated by other researchers.
- Carried out responsibly, with due care for all involved in the research, in the design, execution, and dissemination of work. Where appropriate also taking into account the environmental impact of the research.
- Collaborative and open, recognising the contributions of all involved, and ensuring data is shared wherever possible.
- Inclusive and respectful, taking into account the rights, dignity, and welfare of all participants, colleagues, and wider stakeholders.
These values are guided in the UK by the Universities UK Concordat to Support Research Integrity, which the ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú fully endorses.
Why is research integrity important?
Maintaining high standards of research integrity is essential to the credibility and reliability of our work, the reputation of the University, and the public’s trust in research more widely.
For academic staff, it directly supports professional development, reputation, and eligibility for funding. For students it is an essential part of learning how to be a good researcher.
Research integrity principles lead to reliable research that can be used to make good decisions. Since a key part of good decision making is transparency, reliable research is where other researchers can see exactly what was done, and be able to repeat the work for themselves.
Research integrity works hand in hand with legal governance processes and groups such as ethics committees to ensure that staff and students understand their responsibilities when conducting research.
Support for research integrity at ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú
The University provides a range of training, policies, and resources to help staff uphold research integrity throughout the research lifecycle. This includes:
- Training in research integrity for all researchers and supervisors.
- Ethics review processes to support ethical and responsible research and research design.
- Guidance on authorship, data management, and open research.
- Support and mentoring services through the Doctoral College, ethics committees, and the Department of Research and Innovation.
Whether you are a new researcher or an experienced academic, we encourage you to reflect on the role of integrity in your work and to engage with the resources available to you.
Further information
You can find out much more about research integrity and the available support at a national level from the website.
Other useful sources of information include:
We also provide comprehensive information about our research ethics policies and support for ethical research, including the procedures and forms required to apply for ethics approval on our Research Ethics webpages.
If you have any questions or concerns about research integrity in your area, please don’t hesitate to contact your Faculty Ethics Committee Chair.