PRINCIPLES OF RESPONSIBLE RESEARCH

The Jacobs School of Engineering is committed to the highest standards of integrity and excellence in research and development. This begins with fostering a research environment that is free of harassment and discrimination, embraces diversity, and supports open and free exchange of ideas. The principles and responsibilities articulated below are largely derived from the Singapore Statement*, an international consensus document defining the components of integrity in research.

PRINCIPLES

  • Accountability and Honesty in all aspects of research
  • Inclusivity in representation in all aspects of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness in working with others
  • Good stewardship of research on behalf of others

SOCIETAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Societal Considerations: consider societal benefits and risks inherent in research.
  2. Inclusive Research: strive to ensure researchers as well as the subjects of research are representative of diversity in society
  3. Public Communication: limit professional comments to recognized expertise when engaged in public discussions about research findings, respect confidentiality of research records, and clearly distinguish professional comments from opinions based on personal views.
  4. Research Community: treat all members of the community with dignity and fairness.

RESEARCH RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Research Integrity: take responsibility for the trustworthiness of research and employ appropriate methods to protect the integrity of research (e.g., mitigate risk of bias).
  2. Research Records: keep clear, accurate records of research sufficient for verification and replication by others.
  3. Data Sharing: share data openly once integrity, validity, priority, ownership, and contractual obligations have been addressed.
  4. Research Findings: base conclusions on critical analysis of the evidence; report findings and interpretations fully, objectively, promptly, and with fair citing of previous work; and readily admit and report mistakes when discovered.
  5. Conflict of Interest: disclose conflicts of interest that could compromise the trustworthiness of research and take steps to mitigate the risk of bias.
  6. Credit: include as authors all those and only those who meet applicable authorship criteria and accept responsibility for their contributions; acknowledge in publications the names and roles of all those who do not meet authorship criteria, but made significant contributions to the research.
  7. Peer Review: provide fair, prompt and rigorous evaluations; respect confidentiality when reviewing work of others; and share confidential material with others (e.g., graduate students or postdoctoral scholars) only with approval from those requesting the review.
  8. Reporting Detrimental Research Practices: speak up and ask about research practices that risk undermining the integrity of research; and report to the appropriate authorities suspected research misconduct, including fabrication, falsification or plagiarism. [See: Whistleblowing]
  9. Adherence to Regulations: be aware of and adhere to research regulations and policies. [See: University Policies]