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Introduction
The integrity of the research enterprise rests
on honesty and trust (OECD, 2015). According
to the US National Institutes of Health,
([Link]., 2018), “Research integrity
It is critical for the advance of scientific
research that the research community pur-
sues novel, influential, and relevant research.
Research quality, benefits, and integrity are
includes: highly interdependent. Therefore, while
maintaining high research quality is vital, it is
4 Use of honest and verifiable methods in
equally important that research is conducted
proposing, performing, and evaluating
in a culture that supports honesty and integ-
research.
rity to ensure the highest standards of ethical
4 Reporting research results with particular practice and behaviour.
attention to adherence to rules, regula-
There is ever-increasing pressure to demon-
tions, and guidelines.
strate societal or economic impact of science
4 Following commonly accepted profes- coupled with the potential for monetary gain.
sional codes or norms.” To seek even the smallest advantage, the
temptation to come close to, and perhaps
Research is, by and large, a self-regulating
cross, ethical boundaries is very strong.
and self-policing process wherein research-
Given the high stakes, there is concern about
ers conduct and present their research
the stability of the ethical foundations
without falsification and fabrication, giving
and integrity of the research enterprise.
credit to other scholars for their ideas when
Wellcome conducted a voluntary survey of
and where such credit is due. However,
respondents from all over the world, but
research also has aspects of competition,
mainly from the UK. The findings (Wellcome
including an emphasis on priority claims.
Trust Research Culture Report, 2020) indi-
Prestige has become associated with
cated that researchers felt intense pressure
research excellence and high achievement; it
to publish, with scant value placed on how
has become a high-value undertaking in
the results were achieved.
which intellectual success frequently leads to
commercial success (Stephan, 2012). This problem of scholarly wrongdoing is

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compounded by the recent rapid increase in on the other hand, misconduct such as data
the number of research publications in fabrication, falsification of results, mishandling
journals of dubious quality. Research publica- of research subjects, and conflicts of interest
tions across the world have grown at a com- remain much more difficult to detect and
pounded annual growth rate of approxi- police.
mately three percent over the past two
Researchers, funders, publishers, research
centuries (Johnson, et al., 2018:5). This growth
administrators, and other stakeholders in the
in research output has also been accompa-
research ecosystem have to play a prominent
nied by a rise in poor-quality and predatory
role in this context. It is incumbent upon
journals, and lapses in ethical research
them to have clear and unambiguous
practice (Eykens, et al., 2019). Two percent of
policies and procedures for ensuring good
the scientists who were surveyed admitted to
research practices. It is equally important to
having falsified, fabricated, or modified data
have a governance structure to ensure that
(Fanelli, 2009). Retraction Watch, along with
violations of good practice are addressed in a
other similar organizations (Oransky, 2020;
fair, timely, consistent, and transparent
WAME, 2020), aim to, “Promote transparency
fashion.
and integrity in science and scientific publish-
ing, and to disseminate best practices and Recently, several efforts have been made to
increase efficiency in science.” They main- explicitly define the various components of
tain,“A database of retractions, expressions research integrity and ethical practice (See
of concern and related publishing events” Appendix 1). Research organizations, includ-
from all over the world, identifying well- ing universities, have developed their own
placed and highly-regarded researchers who guidelines for the ethical conduct of research.
have falsified or fabricated data, journals that Good research practice is not a mystery, what
have retracted publications because of bad is lacking is a culture supported by a sound
peer review practices, and funders that have governance structure to ensure that research
stripped researchers of their current funding misconduct is rare. However, procedures and
or barred them from seeking future research processes to address the violations fairly,
support (Fang, et al., 2012). It is important to promptly, and effectively, if and when such
note however, that retractions are often acts misconduct occurs, are lacking.
of “genuine self-correction and transparency”,
To address such concerns and to promote
which serve a valuable purpose in maintaining
academic integrity and publication ethics in
the integrity of the scholarly record (Quan-
Indian universities, the University Grants
Hoang, 2020).
Commission (UGC) created the Consortium
Research misconduct is not uncommon for Research Ethics (CARE) on November 28,
(Brainard and You, 2018). On the one hand, 2018. (UGC Public Notice, 2019). Further, UGC
the ability to electronically scan documents constituted an Expert Group on Good
and with the advances in machine learning Academic Research Practices chaired by
and text analysis, some aspects of research Professor Rakesh Bhatnagar, Vice Chancellor,
misconduct such as plagiarism are becoming Banaras Hindu University to study this topic
easier to identify and potentially curtail. But and to offer recommendations about policies

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and procedures regarding integrity in the 4 Develop materials for training on research
conduct, production, and dissemination of integrity, ethical behaviour, and good
academic research. This document reflects research practices. This training will
recommendations from such experts and from provide the substantive knowledge, skills,
similar efforts across the globe. and competencies for a researcher with
regard to research integrity and ethics. The
The focus of this document is on developing
core content of the such training should be
and sustaining research integrity within
mandatory with additional training
an ethical research culture. While this frame-
materials reflecting the local context
work must be operationalized locally, this
being designed simultaneously and
document offers recommendations for
delivered at the discretion of each ORI.
institutions to consider for successfully
enhancing a culture of research integrity. In
particular, institutions can:

4 Create an ORI as the organizational entity

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2
Values Underlying Research Integrity
The Office of Research Integrity, ORI, must
promote the following values in the conduct
and management of research:
Researchers should avoid conflicts
of interest in setting research priorities,
establishing research collaborations,
choosing research questions, and inter-
4 Ethics: Research is conducted in an ethical
preting and assessing the implications of
manner ensuring dignity, rights, safety,
the research results.
and privacy within the researcher ecosys
tem. 4 Independence: Research functions must
be insulated from both the appearance
4 Rigour: Research ensures high quality
and the reality of undue influence of
design, reliable data, the appropriate use
funders or other non-researchers with a
of methods, rigorous and careful analysis,
stake in the outcome of the research. To
and transparent reporting and interpreta-
promote objectivity, researchers should be
tion of the results.
allowed independence in the design,
4 Relevance: In the endeavour of expanding conduct, analysis, interpretation, and
the knowledge-base and understanding dissemination of the research and research
the environment and ecosystem, research findings.
advances the short-and long-term goals of
4 Accountability: Research will comply with
science and society.
both the spirit and the letter of relevant
4 Transparency: Honesty is promoted rules and procedures such as regulations
through transparency in developing, governing professional standards. The
undertaking, reviewing, reporting, ORI will publish and make readily
and communicating research in a fair, accessible such rules, roles, and procedures
comprehensive, and unbiased fashion (All that will ensure that instances of alleged
European Academies, 2017). misconduct or malfeasance are rare. If and
4 Respect: The process of research is when they occur, they are effectively and
aligned with the norms and traditions promptly addressed in a fair and timely
of society and its cultural heritage, fashion with sensitivity towards the rights
with respect for colleagues, research of all concerned.
participants, and the environment. Integrity in research implies that these values
4 Impartiality: Objectivity and lack of bias permeate every aspect and are upheld by all
are the core principles of research. involved in the research enterprise.

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