Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)



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Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

All researchers have the ethical and moral obligation to conduct their University-sanctioned research responsibly and to train their staff and students in the responsible conduct of research. Many issues related to research integrity are covered by government or university policies, but some are too complex to be governed by policy documents. Adherence to responsible research practices must be part of the legacy that each mentor passes on to his or her students as part of the research training process.

This page provides an educational tool on responsible conduct of research for new or visiting researchers and an easily accessible resource for experienced researchers. In addition, to foster increased awareness of ethical issues involving research, we urge all faculty, research staff, and graduate students to consult "On Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct in Research" (1995), a booklet published by the National Academy of Sciences that provides an especially good, comprehensive review of issues related to the responsible conduct of research. We have listed and linked this publication's table of contents at the bottom of this web page.

University policies and compliances governing research and sponsored projects may be found on our Research Policies page. Federal regulations governing sponsored research (such as the A-21 and A-110 circulars) are linked to from our Grant Management page.

Principal Investigator

Conflict of Interest and Commitment

Other Relevant Research Policies and Compliances

Data Management

The following sites contain useful, detailed information about sound data management and intellectual property protection.

Record-Keeping Procedures (Harvard University)
Data Acquisition and Management (Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning)
Good Record Keeping: Procedures for Academic Laboratory Settings (University of Florida)
Common-Sense Rules for Research Record Keeping (George Mason University)

Resource: Issues Relating to Research Integrity

"The scientific research enterprise, like other human activities, is built on a foundation of trust. Scientists trust that the results reported by others are valid. Society trusts that the results of research reflect an honest attempt by scientists to describe the world accurately and without bias. The level of trust that has characterized science and its relationship with society has contributed to a period of unparalleled scientific productivity. But this trust will endure only if the scientific community devotes itself to exemplifying and transmitting the values associated with ethical scientific conduct."
—Preface to On Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct of Research"

On Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct in Research (1995) is a good resource for teaching ethics in research and should be read by all neophyte and experienced researchers. The Table of Contents illustrates the breadth of the booklet: