Research Misconduct
The University of Wolverhampton is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethics and integrity in its research and to ensuring that all researchers pursue their work in an atmosphere free of prejudice and harassment.
What is misconduct in Research?
The Concordat to Support Research Integrity characterises research misconduct as behaviours or actions that fall short of the standards of ethics, research and scholarship required to ensure that the integrity of research is upheld. It can cause harm to people, the environment, waste resources, undermine the research and damage the credibility of research. Research misconduct can take many forms, including:
fabrication: making up results, other outputs (for example, artefacts) or aspects of research, including documentation and participant consent, and presenting and/or recording them as if they were real. |
falsification: inappropriately manipulating and/or selecting research processes, materials, equipment, data, imagery and/or consent. |
plagiarism: using other people's ideas, intellectual property, or work (written or otherwise) without acknowledgement or permission. |
failure to meet: legal, ethical and professional obligations, for example:
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misrepresentation of: data, including suppression of relevant results/data or knowingly, recklessly or by gross negligence presenting a flawed interpretation of data.
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improper dealing with allegations of misconduct: failing to address possible infringements, such as attempts to cover up misconduct and reprisals against whistle-blowers or failing to adhere appropriately to agreed procedures in the investigation of alleged research misconduct accepted as a condition of funding. Improper dealing with allegations of misconduct includes the inappropriate censoring of parties through the use of legal instruments, such as non-disclosure agreements. |
Best Practices to Avoid Research Misconduct
The University's Code of Good Research Practice has been developed to articulate the importance of integrity and rigour in all research carried out at and in partnership with the University. The Code assists researchers to determine how to apply the baseline standards set by policies and regulations of the University, as well as by wider legal and contractual requirements and ethical norms, to the situations which face them in everyday practice of research.
How to raise a concern
Research misconduct queries and concerns are dealt with at an institutional level. Our procedure to deal with such allegations has been developed in line with guidance issued by the UK Research Integrity Office.
Staff, students or any external individuals or organisations wishing to raise a concern about the integrity of the research conducted at the University of Wolverhampton can do so, in writing, with supporting evidence to the University Research Integrity Manager, Jill Morgan.
Investigating Allegations of Research Misconduct
The UK Research Councils require all Higher Education Institutions to demonstrate that there are agreed principles and procedures in place to deal with allegations of misconduct in research.
The University is responsible for monitoring all research and investigating any alleged misconduct. Any investigation will be carried out promptly, independently and fairly, under the Procedure for the Investigation of Allegations of Misconduct in Research.