Citation

Aubert Bonn N, Godecharle S, Dierickx K. J. Empir. Res. Hum. Res. Ethics 2017; 12(1): 33-44.

Affiliation

KU Leuven, Belgium.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, University of California Press)

DOI

10.1177/1556264616688980

PMID

28220725

Abstract

Research integrity is imperative to good science. Nonetheless, many countries and institutions develop their own integrity guidance, thereby risking incompatibilities with guidance of collaborating institutions. We retrieved guidance for academic integrity and misconduct of 18 universities from 10 European countries and investigated accessibility, general content, principles endorsed, and definitions of misconduct. Accessibility and content differ substantially between institutions. There are general trends of common principles of integrity and definitions of misconduct, yet differences remain. Parallel with previous research, we distinguish different approaches in integrity guidance; one emphasizes broad values of integrity, and the other details negative behaviors of misconduct. We propose that a balance between both approaches is necessary to preserve trust, meaning, and realism of guidance on research integrity.

Language: en

Keywords

European universities; code of conduct; ethical requirements; guidance on research integrity; misconduct; research ethics; research integrity; values of research