Research integrity well guarded in most European countries, report finds
The majority of European countries are well equipped to safeguard research integrity, according to a new report from the European Science Foundation (ESF). The report, entitled 'Stewards of Integrity - Institutional approaches to promote and safeguard good research practice in Europe', provides an overview of how research integrity issues are tackled in 18 European countries. In compiling the report, the ESF surveyed learned societies, public research performing organisations, research funding agencies and other central organisations responsible for dealing with allegations of research misconduct. The report's authors were particularly interested in codes and guidelines to promote good research practice; the activities and policies of organisations involved in research integrity; and explicit procedures designed to handle allegations of research misconduct. They found that most of the countries studied had mechanisms in place to promote good research practice. 'One can only be pleased to see that in most countries research organisations have taken the responsibility to act as 'stewards of integrity' by developing clear codes of conduct and establishing sound mechanisms to handle allegations of wrongdoing,' commented Dr John Marks, Deputy Chief Executive of the ESF, who oversaw the compilation of the report. The report reveals that countries employ a wide range of approaches to deal with the issue of research integrity. Some of the documents are aspirational in nature, setting out how scientists are expected to behave. Others investigate the various aspects of good research conduct in greater detail. Some organisations have clear regulatory codes or guidelines which clearly set out the procedures for handling allegations of research misconduct and the sanctions to be handed out to those found guilty. Relatively few countries and organisations have explicit mechanisms to deal with cases of research misconduct; where they exist, they were often set up following serious cases of research misconduct. Meanwhile many of the countries covered by the report are busy developing and refining their procedures still further. For example, a working group in Austria has recommended the creation of central bodies to handle allegations of research misconduct, while the UK and France are organising policy workshops with the aim of discussing the steps required to promote good research practice. At the international level, the Global Science Forum of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) is facilitating the exchange of ideas on how to address research misconduct in international research cooperation. 'We are witnessing a tremendous dynamic in the development of research integrity structures,' said Dr Marks. 'We see today more and more countries and organisations embarking pro-actively in developing frameworks to encourage research integrity. It seems that the efforts to stimulate debates on best practices standards such as the OECD Global Science Forum on research integrity and the world conference on research integrity are bearing fruit.' The ESF, together with other organisations, are now planning to organise a forum in which those responsible for safeguarding research integrity can share ideas and experiences and work towards the development of harmonised standards across Europe.