Responsible Conduct of Research: Advancing Knowledge and Transforming Lives

1. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH Karen L. Klomparens, Dean Michigan State University East Lansing MI

2. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. What is RCR? • Honesty • Accuracy • Objectivity • Fairness Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research. Nick Steneck. Office of Research Integrity (2004)

3. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. RCR is important for YOU! • Establish credibility as a researcher • Establish a clear “path” of data • Enable further research • Contribute to the field of research • Meet the expectation of public trust • Membership in the community of scholars-- traditions, values, ethics

4. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. Traditions and values • “The scientific research enterprise, like other human activities, is built on a foundation of trust.” National Academy of Sciences, “On Being a Scientist”. (1995)

5. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. General categories • Lab notebooks, chemical, radiation, and biological safety, and mentoring • Responsibility to human subjects • Responsibility to animal subjects • Objectivity/conflict of interest • Avoiding falsification & fabrication of data and plagiarism (“misconduct”)

6. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. Laboratory Notebooks • Complete and accurate lab notebooks are important as a primary source of data, to track protocols and equipment, to record your thoughts for future papers, and as the source of data for a potential patent. • Check with your major prof/advisor for more guidelines • Websites : www.life.uiuc.edu/mcb/580/lab-notes.html or www.swarthmore.edu/NatSci/cpurrin1/notebookadvice.htm

7. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. Institutional Review Boards • Human Subjects • Animal Subjects Other University committees on radiation, chemical, and biological safety

8. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. Human Subjects • Research using surveys, focus groups (SBES) or tissue samples (STEM) • Identifiable private information (confidentiality) • Interactions or interventions • IRB application, approval process • (45 CFR 46-102: federal definition)

9. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. Welfare of Lab Animals • Humane care and treatment • “Meaningful” research • IACUC = institutional animal care and use committee; University veterinarian • Non-animal models

10. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. Conflicts of Interest • Financial – Funding – Companies: employees, equity – Use of products – Royalties – Relationships • Federal requirements for disclosure

11. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. Mentoring • Responsibilities of mentors to mentees • Responsibilities of mentees • Honesty, collegiality, fair and open work relationships, letters of reference, helping students develop into professionals • http://grad.msu.edu/all/ris04.pdf Best practices from Michigan State University

12. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. Research Misconduct • Defined by federal policies • Adhered to by all universities taking any federal money • Misconduct • “Questionable” research practices • “Unacceptable” research practices

13. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. Plagiarism • “Copying the language of another and passing it off as your own” (New American College Dictionary) • CITATIONS • ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

14. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. • Referring directly to the ideas and words of others • Using previous work as a foundation for your own • Referencing outside material important to support your argument • Citing information that is not “common knowledge”

15. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. • Acknowledging contributors – Group work – Services from others • Copying sections or passages of text • Using previously submitted work • Paraphrasing • Summarizing

16. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. Whistleblowing • Good faith • Best reference:CK Gunsalus. 1998. “How to Blow the Whistle and Still Have a Career Afterwards” Science and Engineering Ethics 4 (1): 51-64. • http://poynter.indiana.edu/see-ckg1.pdf

17. Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. Gunsalus suggestions • Consider alternative explanations • Ask questions, instead of making charges • Documentation • Separate personal and professional • Seek advice and listen to it (1998) How to Blow the Whistle and Still Have a Career Afterwards