RESEARCH INTEGRITY
Professor Liam Marnane
Dean of Graduate Studies
Research Misconduct
• What is Research Misconduct
• Fabrication of data
• Falsification of data
• Plagiarism
07/10/2015
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Example of Plagiarism
• Retracted Paper:- Claimed access to database from NBRG
• Presented results based on that data
07/10/2015
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Stem-cell scientist found guilty of
misconduct
• Method to apply stress to
create embryonic like cells
was presented in two Nature
papers (2014)
• Slew of problems has been
identified since then
• Committee looked at six
problems.
• Four were dismissed as
innocent errors
• Two cases the committee
found that Researcher had
manipulated data in an
intentionally misleading
fashion. They branded it
scientific misconduct.
07/10/2015
dgs@ucc.ie
The Peer-Review Scam
07/10/2015
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Office of Research Integrity (ORI)
• Directs Public Health
Service (PHS) research
integrity activities on
behalf of the Secretary
of Health and Human
Services in US
• Publishes Case
Summaries
• 2015:- 2 Listed
• 2014:- 13 Listed
• 2013:- 11 Listed
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ORI Case Example
• Postdoc Researcher at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel
Deaconess Medical Center
• knowingly and intentionally falsifying three (3) figures and/or
legends and one (1) supplemental movie legend in a manuscript
submitted for publication to the journal Nature
• has voluntarily agreed for a period of 3 years to have her
research supervised if employed by an institution that receives
or applies for U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) funding
07/10/2015
dgs@ucc.ie
Band Of Brothers author accused of
fabrication for Eisenhower biography
• American historian Professor Stephen Ambrose
• http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/apr/25/stephen-ambroseeisenhower-biography-scandal
• Ambrose Problems Date Back To Ph.D. Thesis
• http://www.forbes.com/2002/05/10/0510ambrose.html
• He admits to copying “some phrases” and “a few sentences” in
some of his books, but he denies that this practice amounts to
plagiarism, and rejects the notion that attribution problems are
endemic to his entire body of work.
• In each instance, Ambrose copies a phrase or a sentence from
his source, perhaps changes it a bit, and then footnotes the
passage. The endnotes indicate the source, but do not indicate
that the source’s words are used without quotation marks.
07/10/2015
dgs@ucc.ie
Singapore Statement on Research
Integrity:- Principles
• Honesty in all aspects of research
• Accountability in the conduct of research
• Professional courtesy and fairness in working with
others
• Good stewardship of research on behalf of others
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National Policy Statement on Ensuring
Research Integrity in Ireland
• Developed by the Irish Universities Association
• In collaboration with
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Health Research Board (HRB)
Royal Irish Academy (RIA)
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
Institutes of Technology Ireland (IoTI)
Higher Education Authority (HEA)
Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT)
Enterprise Ireland (EI)
Teagasc
Irish Research Council (IRC)
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
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Commitments to Foster and Ensure
Research Integrity
• Commitment 1: Standards
• Commitment 2: Education
• Commitment 3: Collaboration for Continuous
Improvement
• Commitment 4: Action to Address Misconduct
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Commitment 1: Standards
• We are committed to ensuring the highest
standards of integrity in all aspects of our
research, founded on basic principles of good
research practice to be observed by all
researchers and research organisations.
• Following Standards align with Singapore
Principles
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Commitment 1: Standards
• Honesty
• in presenting research goals and intentions,
• in precise and nuanced reporting on research methods and procedures,
• in conveying valid interpretations and justifiable claims with respect to
possible applications of research results.
• Reliability
• in performing research (meticulous, careful and attentive to detail),
• in communication of the results (fair and full and unbiased reporting).
• Objectivity
• interpretations and conclusions must be founded on facts and data capable
of proof and secondary review;
• there should be transparency in the collection, analysis and interpretation of
data, and verifiability of the scientific reasoning.
• Impartiality and Independence
• from commissioning or interested parties,
• from ideological or political pressure groups,
• from economic or financial interests.
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Commitment 1: Standards
• Open communication
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in discussing the work with other scientists,
in contributing to public knowledge through publication of the findings,
in honest communication to the general public.
This openness presupposes a proper storage and availability of data, and
accessibility for interested colleagues.
• Duty of care
• for participants in and the subjects of research, be they human beings,
animals, the environment or cultural objects. Research on human subjects
and animals should always rest on the principles of respect and duty of care.
• Fairness
• in providing proper references and giving due credits to the work of others,
in treating colleagues with integrity and honesty.
• Responsibility for future science generations
• The education of young scientists and scholars requires binding standards
for mentorship and supervision.
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Commitment 2: Education
• Education and promotion of good research practice
are the foundations of research integrity.
• We are committed to maintaining a national
research environment that is founded upon a
culture of integrity, embracing internationally
recognised good practice and a positive, proactive
approach to promoting research integrity.
• This will include support for the development of our
researchers through education and promotion of
good research practices.
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Commitment 2: Education
•Research integrity training for new and
experienced researchers
•Data storage and retention good practice
• Statutory obligations
•Enhancing practice
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Research Integrity Training
• Intellectual property issues including
conventions on joint authorship
• Ethical considerations
• Definitions of research misconduct
• Plagiarism
• The recording of information and data related to
their research is undertaken according to good
practice in the relevant discipline
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Commitment 3: Collaboration for
Continuous Improvement
We are committed to working together to
reinforce and safeguard the integrity of the Irish
research system and to reviewing progress
regularly
• National Forum.
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Commitment 4:
Action to Address Misconduct
We are committed to using transparent, fair and
effective processes to deal with allegations of
research misconduct when they arise
• Definitions of Research Misconduct.
• Addressing Research Misconduct.
07/10/2015
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Core “Research Misconduct”
•Fabrication of data
•Falsification of data
•Plagiarism
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FFP Normally Includes
• Selectively excluding data from analysis.
• Misinterpreting data to obtain desired results
(including inappropriate use of statistical
methods).
• Doctoring images in publications.
• Producing false data or results under pressure
from a sponsor.
07/10/2015
dgs@ucc.ie
Research Practice Misconduct
• Using inappropriate (e.g., harmful or
dangerous) research methods.
• Poor research design.
• Experimental, analytical, computational errors.
• Violation of human subject protocols.
• Abuse of laboratory animals.
07/10/2015
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Data-related Misconduct
• Not preserving primary data.
• Bad data management, storage.
• Withholding data from the scientific community.
NB: The above applies to physical research
materials as well.
07/10/2015
dgs@ucc.ie
Publication-related Misconduct
• Claiming undeserved authorship.
• Denying authorship to contributors.
• Artificially proliferating publications ("salami-slicing").
• Failure to correct the publication record.
• Including authors without permission.
• Peer review abuse e.g., non-disclosure of conflict of
interest, unfairly holding up a rival's publication.
• Misrepresenting credentials or publication record.
07/10/2015
dgs@ucc.ie
Personal Misconduct in the Research
Setting
• Inappropriate personal behaviour, harassment.
• Inadequate mentoring, counselling of students.
• Insensitivity to social or cultural norms.
07/10/2015
dgs@ucc.ie
Financial, and Other Misconduct
• Misuse of research funds for unauthorised
purchases or for personal gain.
• Making an unsubstantiated or malicious
misconduct allegation.
07/10/2015
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UCC Policies
• Graduate Studies Office
• Code of Practice for Supervision of Research Students
• Leave of Absence
• Policy on Resolution of Difficulties for Postgraduate Students
• VP Research
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University's Code of Good Conduct in Research
Introduction to Research Ethics at UCC
Conflict of Interest
General Provisions on Intellectual Property
Research Integrity
• HR
• Duty of Respect and Right to Dignity Policy
• Office of Corporate and Legal Affairs
• Whistle Blowing Policy
• Data Protection Policy
• Child Protection Policy
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Procedures for Investigating Allegations
of Plagiarism in Research Theses
• In the context of postgraduate research theses, plagiarism is
defined as:
• Submitting, as your own work, work that derives in part or in its
entirety from the work of others without due acknowledgement.
• In the absence of due acknowledgment, plagiarism can take the form of
direct reproduction of text or other material from another source;
paraphrasing by changing some of the words or the order of the words
from another source; and using ideas taken from someone else’s work.
• Plagiarism can occur in respect of all types of sources, including text,
illustrations, musical quotations, mathematical derivations, computer
code, etc; material downloaded from websites or drawn from
manuscripts or other media; and both published and unpublished
material.
07/10/2015
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Signed Declaration in Thesis
“This is to certify that the work I am submitting is my own
and has not been submitted for another degree, either at
University College Cork or elsewhere. All external
references and sources are clearly acknowledged and
identified within the contents. I have read and understood
the regulations of University College Cork concerning
plagiarism.”
07/10/2015
dgs@ucc.ie