Abstract
Researchers often refer to “research integrity”, “scientific integrity”, “research misconduct”, “scientific misconduct” and “research ethics”. However, they may use some of these terms interchangeably despite conceptual distinctions. The aim of this paper is to clarify what is signified by several key terms related to research integrity, and to suggest clearer conceptual delineation between them. To accomplish this task, it provides a conceptual analysis based upon definitions and general usage of these phrases and categorization of integrity-breaching behaviours in literature and guidelines, including clarification of the different domains and agents involved. In the first part of the analysis, following some initial clarifications, I explore the distinction between internal and external rules of integrity. In the second part, I explore the distinction between integrity and lack of misconduct, before suggesting a recategorisation of different types of integrity breach. I conclude that greater clarity is needed in the debate on research integrity. Distinguishing between scientific and research integrity, reassessing the relative gravity of different misbehaviours in light of this distinction, and recognising all intentional breaches of integrity as misconduct may help to improve guidelines and education.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ALLEA—All European Academies. (2017). The European code of conduct for research integrity. http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/other/hi/h2020-ethics_code-of-conduct_en.pdf. Accessed November 15, 2017.
Cicero, M. T. (2008). On obligations. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Horbach, S., & Halffman, W. (2016). Promoting virtue or punishing fraud: mapping contrasting discourses on ‘scientific integrity’. Science and Engineering Ethics, 23, 1461–1485.
Komić, D., Marušić, S. L., & Marušić, A. (2015). Research integrity and research ethics in professional codes of ethics: Survey of terminology used by professional organizations across research disciplines. PLOS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0133662.
McCook, A. (2017). U.S. panel sounds alarm on “detrimental” research practices, calls for new body to help tackle misconduct. Retraction Watch, 11th April 2017. http://retractionwatch.com/2017/04/11/u-s-panel-sounds-alarm-detrimental-research-practices-calls-new-body-help-tackle-misconduct/. Accessed November 15, 2017.
Meriste, H., Parder, M.L., Lõuk, K., Simm, K., Lilles-Heinsar, L., Veski, L., Soone, M., Juurik, M., & Sutrop, M. (2016). Promoting integrity as an integral dimension of excellence in research. Printeger.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (US). (1992). Responsible science: Ensuring the integrity of the research process. https://www.nap.edu/read/1864/chapter/1. Accessed November 15, 2017.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (US). (2017). Fostering integrity in research. https://www.nap.edu/catalog/21896/fostering-integrity-in-research (US). Accessed November 15, 2017.
National Institutes of Health (US). (2010). Grants and Funding. Research integrity. https://grants.nih.gov/grants/research_integrity/research_misconduct.htm.
Pimple, K. D. (2002). Six domains of research ethics: A heuristic framework for the responsible conduct of research. Science and Engineering Ethics, 8, 191–205.
Shaw, D., & Erren, T. (2015). 10 Simple rules for protecting research integrity. PLOS Computational Biology, 11(10), e1004388.
Shaw, D., & Satalkar, P. (2018). Researchers’ interpretations of research integrity: A qualitative study. Accountability In Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/08989621.2017.1413940.
Steneck, N. H. (2006). Fostering integrity in research: Definitions, current knowledge, and future directions. Science and Engineering Ethics, 12(1), 53–74.
Titus, S. L., Wells, J. A., & Rhoades, L. J. (2008). Repairing research integrity. Nature, 453, 980–998.
Acknowledgements
This paper arose from the Perspectives on Research Integrity in Science and Medicine (PRISM) study, funded by the Käthe Zingg Schwichtenberg Fund of the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences. Thanks to Dr. Priya Satalkar for helpful feedback and discussion.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shaw, D. The Quest for Clarity in Research Integrity: A Conceptual Schema. Sci Eng Ethics 25, 1085–1093 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-018-0052-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-018-0052-2