Research misconduct
All researchers are expected to be committed to ethical principles and professional standards. Not upholding such standards, either intentionally or through lack of knowledge, damages the scientific process and may harm research participants, colleagues, the University and society as a whole.
As set out in its Academic Integrity in Research: Code of Practice and Procedure, the University of Oxford expects all its members to observe the highest standards in the conduct of their research. This Code also defines procedure for handling allegations, investigations, and reporting of research misconduct.
Misconduct for the purpose of the University’s Code and Procedure means fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or deception in proposing, carrying out, or reporting results of research, and deliberate, dangerous or negligent deviations from accepted practice in carrying out research.
It includes failure to follow an agreed protocol if this failure results in unreasonable risk or harm to humans, other vertebrates or the environment, and facilitating of misconduct in research by collusion in, or concealment of, such actions by others. It also includes any plan or conspiracy or attempt to do any of these things. It does not include honest error or honest differences in interpretation or judgement in evaluating research methods or results, or misconduct (including gross misconduct) unrelated to research processes.
When suspected research misconduct involves external funding, the University must comply with any additional regulations, policies and reporting obligations required by the funder in question. Misconduct or poor practice in research should be challenged and sources of advice and support for University members include:
- Fellow students and colleagues
- Supervisors
- Mentors
- Senior Tutors
- Directors of Graduate Studies
- Heads of Department
- Research Services
- UK Research Integrity Office
Any third-parties (eg. representatives of research funders, research journals, professional bodies) wishing to raise concerns, in confidence, about the integrity of research at the University of Oxford are invited, in the first instance, to contact Kathryn Dally, Research Services, University of Oxford (Kathryn.dally@admin.ox.ac.uk).