Integrity in research involves the process of actively adopting and adhering to the various ethical and professional standards and principles and practices which are incorporated into research. Furthermore, integrity in research is a concept that someone should actively adopt as opposed to agreeing with simply because they feel forced to (Korenman, 2006). The ethical principles mentioned above include honesty, trustworthiness, high appreciation for scientific record and the lawfulness that inform institutional practices. Another important aspect of integrity in research involves objectivity. It is human nature to be subjective however; integrity in research ultimately means analysing data objectively and holding the results in high value as opposed to preconceived ideas (Okkenhaug, 2003).

There following are practices that encompass responsible researching (Korenman, 2006):

1. With proposing, performing and reporting research; honesty and fairness are essential.

Researchers are required to honestly present proposals and data and communicate them in writing and/or verbally to the best of their ability. These descriptions must represent the data in a clear and accurate manner and focus should be placed on the general understanding as opposed to the order of discovery of the results. Furthermore, researchers need to address any skepticism regarding their research conclusions and must also acknowledge and explain any errors or limitations of their research (Korenman, 2006).

2. In terms of representing contributions to research proposals and reports; accuracy and fairness are required.

In order to provide accurate representations of contributions, the assignment of credit is required. Researchers may not plagiarise in that they may not report someone else’s work as their own. Researchers also need to show accuracy and fairness with regards to their colleagues and collaborators and therefore authorship should be decided prior to the completion of a research project. Similarly, honest acknowledgement of precedents on which their research is based is required (Korenman, 2006).

3. With regards to peer review; competency and fairness are essential.

With regards to fairness in peer review, researchers should only agree to be peer reviewers if their judgements will be unbiased and their conflicts of interest are revealed. There is a balance in the peer review, in that the best peer reviewers are those that are currently doing similar work to that that they are reviewing. However, confidentiality is in play, in that the peer reviewer will be unable to use any of the information that they analyse to facilitate their own research project (Korenman, 2006).

4. Collaboration is required for scientific interactions, resource sharing, communications.

Collaboration in scientific interactions, resource sharing and communications requires researchers to convey their findings in a full, open and timely manner. Furthermore, the discovery should be credited to the researcher who first reports the findings. If there is a delay in reporting new findings it may result in the researcher receiving less recognition, provided other researchers publish similar results first. With regards to resource sharing, researchers are required to share materials with other scientists and researchers to facilitate validation and confirmation of their results. This requirement is even more important when materials are developed through public funding. This is because it is based on the concept that public good is improved via science conducted in the interest of humanity (Korenman, 2006).

5. Transparency regarding conflicts of interest.

When an individual has interests in the outcome of the research that may lead to a personal advantage and in turn compromise the integrity of research, a conflict of interest exists.  Collaboration involves consultations with an advisory group as well as develop inventions that will result in financial gain for the involved individuals and institutions. In order to ensure that conflicts of interest are properly managed, researchers should inform the appropriate institutions of current conflicts of interest (Korenman, 2006).

6. Providing protection for the human subjects when conducting research is essential.

An important aspect of integrity in research involves human subject protection, in that the subjects should be informed regarding the quality and importance of the science, its risks and benefits, and voluntary participation with informed consent (Korenman, 2006).

7. Providing humane care of animals when conducting research is required.

Researchers are required to adopt humane care of animals when they are using animals in conducting their research. Procedures that are implemented during research should avoid causing any animal pain, suffering or distress. Furthermore, if animals are to be used in a research project, according to the law this project needs to be reviewed and approved by constituted institutions (Korenman, 2006).

8. Respecting and adhering to the mutual responsibilities of mentors and trainees.

This involves scientific and interpersonal interactions between mentors and trainees. Mentors may include faculty members, colleagues and co-investigators whereas trainees include undergraduate students, graduate and medical students and postdoctoral fellows. In terms of scientific interactions, the head of the research team should encourage achieving their career goals within scientific research. With regards to interpersonal interactions, it involves respect among team members, fairness in division of responsibilities as well as frequent communication and accountability (Korenman, 2006).

References:

• Korenman, S. (2006). Research Integrity. Retrieved August 14, 2018, from Teaching the Responsible Conduct of Research in Humans (RCRH): https://ori.hhs.gov/education/products/ucla/chapter1/page02.htm
• Okkenhaug, K. (2003). Integrity in Scientific Research: Creating an Environment that Promotes Responsible Conduct. 327 (7420), 935-935.