Research integrity and misconduct
Research integrity
To foster good practice and continue to provide resources and support that underpins high quality, valued research, Flinders University has a Research Integrity Policy and Breach of Research Integrity Procedures. The policy and procedures can be accessed via the Flinders University Policy Library.
The new Research Integrity Policy, which replaces the Responsible Conduct of Research Policy, adopts the revised Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018) (the Code) in full.
The policy applies to all researchers at Flinders, including:
- all staff;
- all academic status holders; and
- all students enrolled in a higher degree by research course (HDR students).
The new policy applies in respect of Flinders University-related research activities, including the supervision of higher degree research student activities. It does not apply to coursework students, who are instead within the scope of the Student Academic Integrity Policy.
The principles and the researcher responsibilities of the Code have been reproduced in table format as a Schedule to the policy, with a list of relevant University policies and practices that apply to each principle and each responsibility. This enables the Research Integrity Policy to serve as a single, definitive, binding point of reference for research integrity at Flinders University.
The new Breach of Research Integrity Procedures have been developed to replace the Research Misconduct Policy, and reflect the requirements of the new NHMRC (2018) Guide to Managing and Investigating Potential Breaches of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (the Investigation Guide).
The procedures contain step by step details of the process to be followed at Flinders University when a complaint is made about a potential breach of the Code. The procedures are consistent with the Investigation Guide and are also tailored to Flinders University.
To ensure Flinders University’s compliance with the Code and Investigation Guide, and to assist researchers, a range of communication and training activities led by the research integrity team in Research Development and Support (RDS) are planned to ensure that our researchers, including HDR students, are aware of their obligations under the Code and the consequences of breaching the Code.
Visit ienrol – Research to see what seminars are currently available. If there are no upcoming seminars, and you wish to be added to a waiting list, contact researcherpd.rds@flinders.edu.au to be added to the relevant waiting list.
Research integrity advisors (RIAs)
In compliance with the Code, and the Investigation Guide, the University has appointed research integrity advisors to advise university staff and students on all matters relating to research integrity, the Code, and relevant university policies.
The Investigation Guide details the definition of research integrity advisors under section 4.1, page 9.
These advisors also act as potential contacts for any staff member or student wanting to make, or considering making, an allegation of research misconduct.
College of Business, Government and Law |
Professor Mark Halsey (Criminology & Criminal Justice) |
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work |
Professor Sarah Wendt (Social Work) Professor Mike Nicholls (Psychology) Professor Murray Drummond (Education) |
College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences |
Professor Robert Phiddian, (Humanities) |
College of Medicine and Public Health |
Associate Professor Bryone Kuss, (Molecular Medicine) |
College of Nursing and Health Sciences |
Professor Eimear Muir-Cochrane (Nursing) Associate Professor Rebecca Golley (Health Sciences) |
College of Science and Engineering |
The role of the research integrity advisor (RIA) is to promote a culture of research ethics and integrity within the college and provide advice about the responsible conduct of research as described in the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research. The research integrity advisor will advise college members who have concerns about potential breaches of the Code, including providing advice on the options available in the process of making an allegation of non-compliance with the Code.
The role of the research integrity advisor is outlined in the Guide to Managing and Investigating Potential Breaches of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.
Key responsibilities
The research integrity advisor will provide:
- Confidential advice to staff and students on matters related to the Code;
- Options open to staff or students considering, making, or having made an allegation, including
- not proceeding if the complaint is clearly not related to a breach of the Code
- proceeding under other institutional processes
- making a complaint about a potential breach of the Code in writing to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).
The research integrity advisor will:
- Ensure they have knowledge of the Code, relevant legislation and University policies and procedures and current issues in research integrity, including undertaking the mandatory training provided by Research Development and Support.
- Keep a written record of all discussions with complainants.
- Ensure this record is kept confidential and is not used for the purposes of preliminary investigation or a Research Misconduct Inquiry.
The research integrity advisor will not provide advice on matters where they have a potential, perceived or actual conflict of interest.
The research integrity advisor role does not extend to investigation or assessment of a complaint, including contacting the person who is the subject of that complaint or being involved in any subsequent investigation other than as witness or to provide testimony.
Key capabilities
- Appointment at an academic Level D-E.
- Strong research experience and evidence of good research practice.
- An understanding of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and issues that may be raised concerning research integrity.
- A sound knowledge of the University’s policies and procedures.
- High level interpersonal, communication, influencing, problem-solving and negotiating skills.
- An ability to hear concerns and provide advice on matters relating to responsible research conduct.
Research data management and authorship
Flinders is currently reviewing policies in line with the recently released supplementary guides accompanying the Code.
It is essential that all researchers, and their respective colleges, centres or institutes, manage the handling, storage, retention and disposal of research data according to current guidelines and requirements.
General guidance in the area of research data management can be found in Section 2 of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.
In addition, regarding research data management within South Australian universities, Section 9 of the General Disposal Schedule No. 24 must also be consulted.
Within Flinders University, general guidance in the area of research data management can be obtained from:
Detailed guidance can be found in these Guidelines for Research Data Management
It is essential that all researchers, and their respective colleges, centres or institutes, manage the authorship of publications according to current guidelines and requirements.
General guidance in the area of publication, authorship and peer review can be found in Sections 4, 5 and 6, respectively, of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research 2007 (the 2007 Code).
Authorship criteria are found in Section 5 of the 2007 Code, namely:
"Attribution of authorship depends to some extent on the discipline, but in all cases, authorship must be based on substantial contributions in a combination of:
- conception and design of the project
- analysis and interpretation of research data
- drafting significant parts of the work or critically revising it so as to contribute to the interpretation."
It is considered that two of these criteria may suffice, but all three are preferred.
Signed acknowledgements of authorship
The following authorship requirement is mandated by the 2007 Code, section 5.8:
"The department of the executive or senior author must retain the written acknowledgment of authorship discussed above in the form of an original hand-written signature. Where it is not practical to obtain an original signature, it is acceptable to use faxed or emailed consent. This also applies to published conference abstracts and similar publications. If an author is deceased or cannot be contacted, the publication can proceed provided that there are no grounds to believe that this person would have objected to being included as an author."
Within the colleges at Flinders University, this requirement should be managed by the area in which the sole or lead author is based.
The Flinders University Authorship and Data Location Form is provided for use in managing this requirement.
All signed forms, or other acknowledgements of authorship, should be stored within colleges or other relevant non-college business units.
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