For all disciplines, scientific integrity is essential for the proper functioning of science. This concerns standards of conduct that a researcher should adhere to in order to ensure that his research is reliable and of good quality. The Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity describes the principles of good and ethical scientific practice. The code of conduct is in line with international developments and can be used for fundamental as well as applied and practice-oriented research.
Declaration to be signed by each Zuyd student and lecturer:
Clearly formulating the principles of good and honest scientific practice and the resulting standards and duties of care. The guiding principles for quality and reliability of science are:
The code of conduct has a threefold role:
- Refraining from making unfounded claims
- Reporting accurately
- Refraining from fabricating or falsifying data or sources
(plagiarism)
- Taking alternative opinions and counter-arguments seriously
- Being open about margins of uncertainty
- Refraining from presenting results more favourably or
unfavourably than they actually are
In designing, conducting, reporting and disseminating research:
- Using methods that are scientific or scholarly and
- Exercising the best possible care
Keeping a logbook is a good example of exercising care: recording all decisions, considerations, etc.
- Clarity about the data
- How the data were obtained
- Data management according to FAIR principles [more info]
>Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Re-usable
- What results were achieved
- What role was played by external stakeholders
Optimal transparency makes research repeatable (reproducible and verifiable).
Argumentation about the research process must be clear and the steps verifiable.
So a peer should achieve the same results ...
Impartiality
→ not allowing to be guided by non-scientific or non-scholarly
considerations (commercial or political)
- Conducting research that is scientifically and/or societally
relevant
- Taking into consideration the legitimate interests of human and
animal test subjects, as well as those of commissioning parties,
funding bodies and the environment
→ ensure the required consent in the case of incapacitated
persons and minors (<12 parents; 12-16 subject +
parent(s); >16 subject) and ethical review if necessary
Chapter 1:
Scope of the code: to which activities does the code apply and who is bound by the code?
Chapter 2:
Definition and further explanation of the five principles mentioned.
Chapter 3:
Further elaboration of the five principles into 61 specific standards. For good research, these standards must always be observed by researchers. The standards are divided over the different phases of the research process.
Chapter 4:
Contains the institutions’ duty of care.
Institutions have to provide a working environment in which good research practices are promoted and ensured.
Chapter 5:
Non-compliance with the standards: in which cases does this lead to sanctions or corrective and/or preventive measures.
