Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BEYOND (Beyond Bad Apples: Towards a Behavioral and Evidence-Based Approach to Promote Research Ethics and Research Integrity in Europe)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31
Current regulations and methodologies for promoting research ethics and integrity (RE/RI) and addressing RM are often based on the "bad-apples theory," which assumes that RM is caused by a few "rotten" researchers who contaminate others. However, this perspective overlooks other factors within the research ecosystem that may contribute to research misconduct (RM). The primary objective of the BEYOND project is to thoroughly investigate and enhance both individual and institutional roles in RM and the promotion of RE/RI. To accomplish this primary objective, BEYOND has outlined specific objectives structured around the four coordination-and-support building blocks, which include:
(1) To determine behavioral insights and requirements by conducting a comprehensive review of individual and institutional responsibilities concerning RE/RI. (EXPLORE)
(2) To facilitate bottom-up and solution-oriented public engagements regarding the needs, understanding, and viewpoints on the effectiveness of interventions for RE/RI. (EXPLORE & ENGAGE)
(3) To develop and evaluate psychologically informed interventions as strategies to promote/advance RE/RI and mitigate research misconduct (RM) by emphasizing individual and institutional responsibilities. (EXPLORE & GUIDE)
(4) To create frameworks/methodologies for assessing the short-, medium-, and long-term effects of RE/RI training on the attitudes and behaviors of students and researchers. (EXPLORE & GUIDE)
(5) To provide guidance through a best practices manual, guidelines that supplement standard operating procedures, and a 2030 roadmap for enhancing the culture of RE/RI. (EQUIP & GUIDE)
(6) To promote widespread adoption of project outcomes by strategically fostering synergies and offering training resources that complement existing materials for RE/RI training. (EQUIP & ENGAGE)
(1) To determine behavioral insights and requirements by conducting a comprehensive review of individual and institutional responsibilities concerning RE/RI. (EXPLORE)
(2) To facilitate bottom-up and solution-oriented public engagements regarding the needs, understanding, and viewpoints on the effectiveness of interventions for RE/RI. (EXPLORE & ENGAGE)
(3) To develop and evaluate psychologically informed interventions as strategies to promote/advance RE/RI and mitigate research misconduct (RM) by emphasizing individual and institutional responsibilities. (EXPLORE & GUIDE)
(4) To create frameworks/methodologies for assessing the short-, medium-, and long-term effects of RE/RI training on the attitudes and behaviors of students and researchers. (EXPLORE & GUIDE)
(5) To provide guidance through a best practices manual, guidelines that supplement standard operating procedures, and a 2030 roadmap for enhancing the culture of RE/RI. (EQUIP & GUIDE)
(6) To promote widespread adoption of project outcomes by strategically fostering synergies and offering training resources that complement existing materials for RE/RI training. (EQUIP & ENGAGE)
WP1 focuses on identifying current behavioral knowledge and needs through a state-of-the-art review in promoting personal and institutional responsibilities on RE/RI. Main achievements: engagement of a multidisciplinary team of researchers to evaluate the state-of-the-art; gained insights on the socio-economic impacts of RM; gained insights from the literature review on behavioral, ethics, moral psychology & case-based methodologies and review of real-life case studies.
WP2 focuses on organizing public consultation on RE/RI needs, knowledge, perspectives and real-life experiences of RM, and on the efficacy of RE/RI interventions. Main achievements: List of stakeholders and recruitment plan; Consultation paper and plan to engage the public and expert stakeholders; functioning electronic platform for public consultation.
WP3 focuses on laying the groundwork for the model of selecting reporting, contextually sensitive QRP framework and the experimental research. Main achievements: contextual sensitive framework of QRPs; the model of selective reporting behaviors and a systematic overview of potential nudging interventions.
WP4 focuses on developing methodologies to measure the short-, medium- and long-term impact of RE/RI training in the attitudes and behaviors of students and researchers. Main achievements: Identification and implementation of selected measurement methods; identification of measures used to evaluate the effectiveness of REI training, with one of the measures being a self-report measurement tool.
WP5 focuses on providing guidance through best practices manual, guidelines and a 2030 roadmap. Main achievements: scope and structure of the best practices manual and guidelines; scoping review of existing RE/RI guidelines and SOPs and uncovered areas and gaps.
WP6 focuses on fostering broad uptake of project outputs through synergy building and provision of training materials that supplement existing RE/RI training materials. Main achievements: strategy for the development of a trainer guide to help and assist trainers and teachers; a strategy to create new tools and educational resources for RE/RI; and mapping of educational materials.
WP7 provides Horizontal Coordination, Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication of the project. Main achievements: Policy brief on Addressing Socio-Economic Consequences of RM; branding and logo; communications activity launch, Website & series of ENRIO-labelled documents.
WP2 focuses on organizing public consultation on RE/RI needs, knowledge, perspectives and real-life experiences of RM, and on the efficacy of RE/RI interventions. Main achievements: List of stakeholders and recruitment plan; Consultation paper and plan to engage the public and expert stakeholders; functioning electronic platform for public consultation.
WP3 focuses on laying the groundwork for the model of selecting reporting, contextually sensitive QRP framework and the experimental research. Main achievements: contextual sensitive framework of QRPs; the model of selective reporting behaviors and a systematic overview of potential nudging interventions.
WP4 focuses on developing methodologies to measure the short-, medium- and long-term impact of RE/RI training in the attitudes and behaviors of students and researchers. Main achievements: Identification and implementation of selected measurement methods; identification of measures used to evaluate the effectiveness of REI training, with one of the measures being a self-report measurement tool.
WP5 focuses on providing guidance through best practices manual, guidelines and a 2030 roadmap. Main achievements: scope and structure of the best practices manual and guidelines; scoping review of existing RE/RI guidelines and SOPs and uncovered areas and gaps.
WP6 focuses on fostering broad uptake of project outputs through synergy building and provision of training materials that supplement existing RE/RI training materials. Main achievements: strategy for the development of a trainer guide to help and assist trainers and teachers; a strategy to create new tools and educational resources for RE/RI; and mapping of educational materials.
WP7 provides Horizontal Coordination, Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication of the project. Main achievements: Policy brief on Addressing Socio-Economic Consequences of RM; branding and logo; communications activity launch, Website & series of ENRIO-labelled documents.
BEYOND has several potential impacts, including the following:
1) Strengthened Trust in Science: The project's emphasis on transparency, reliability, and preventing RM can enhance societal trust in science.
2) Improved Research Culture: By developing guidelines and training researchers across career stages, BEYOND aims to foster a culture of excellence with RI at its core.
3) Reduced RM: The focus on behavioral drivers of RM and interventions to support ethical behavior can decrease instances of both intentional and unintentional RM.
4) Enhanced RE/RI Capacity-Building: Guidelines, training materials, and evaluation tools for institutions will provide the resources needed to strengthen capacity in RRI.
5) Policy Informing: The BEYOND roadmap can guide policymakers in creating systemic changes to support and incentivize ethical research practices.
To increase the likelihood of these potential impacts, the following are key needs for uptake and success:
1) Sustained engagement with stakeholders throughout the project and beyond is key to widespread adoption of the outcomes.
2) Compatibility with Existing Initiatives: Alignment with ongoing projects and resources minimizes institutional effort for integration and increases buy-in.
3) Effective Dissemination: Maximizing the visibility of results by integrating them into platforms is essential to reach the widest audience.
4) Addressing Systemic Issues: While changing individual researcher behavior is valuable, success also depends on policy and incentive structures that reward ethical research and make misconduct more difficult.
1) Strengthened Trust in Science: The project's emphasis on transparency, reliability, and preventing RM can enhance societal trust in science.
2) Improved Research Culture: By developing guidelines and training researchers across career stages, BEYOND aims to foster a culture of excellence with RI at its core.
3) Reduced RM: The focus on behavioral drivers of RM and interventions to support ethical behavior can decrease instances of both intentional and unintentional RM.
4) Enhanced RE/RI Capacity-Building: Guidelines, training materials, and evaluation tools for institutions will provide the resources needed to strengthen capacity in RRI.
5) Policy Informing: The BEYOND roadmap can guide policymakers in creating systemic changes to support and incentivize ethical research practices.
To increase the likelihood of these potential impacts, the following are key needs for uptake and success:
1) Sustained engagement with stakeholders throughout the project and beyond is key to widespread adoption of the outcomes.
2) Compatibility with Existing Initiatives: Alignment with ongoing projects and resources minimizes institutional effort for integration and increases buy-in.
3) Effective Dissemination: Maximizing the visibility of results by integrating them into platforms is essential to reach the widest audience.
4) Addressing Systemic Issues: While changing individual researcher behavior is valuable, success also depends on policy and incentive structures that reward ethical research and make misconduct more difficult.