Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PRO-RES (PROmoting integrity in the use of RESearch results)
Période du rapport: 2019-08-01 au 2021-10-31
PRO-RES is a European Commission-funded project that aims at: Promoting integrity in the use of research results in evidence based policy: a focus on non-medical research
MAIN GOAL: To use research effectively policy makers need to trust in the validity and reliability of research findings. PRO-RES will address these constraints by delivering a supported guidance framework that is comprehensive, flexible and durable, covers the spectrum of non-medical sciences and offers practical solutions for all stakeholders that will comply with the highest standards of research ethics and integrity. This framework will take into account previous examples of good work and best practice, and drive to deliver a set of pragmatic solutions building on previous work and creating strong links with ongoing projects. In terms of post-2020 European strategic funding policy this will offer a strong and sustainable contribution to RRI via a comprehensive ethics and integrity framework similar to Oviedo/ Helsinki which will have been constructed in negotiation with relevant stakeholders and so will be acceptable to and accessible by all stakeholders. The proposed set of solutions will promote an ethics framework for research and innovation, help promote more responsible research engagements and enable policymakers to make more effective use of non-medical scientific research information. The targeted stakeholders include researchers, reviewers, regulators, research managers and policymakers and, not least, a representative range of research subjects/participants. It will not duplicate existing work – merely guide stakeholders in the direction of established existing good practices.
WHY IS SUCH A PROJECT NECESSARY? Trying to behave ethically and with integrity when conducting research can prove to be complicated given the wide range of codes, guidelines and frameworks. Regulations are diverse and inconsistent, and review practices vary considerably – between countries, institutions, disciplines and professions. As multinational and interdisciplinary research grow, it is vital that the confusion arising out of such disparate approaches should be reduced as far as possible. The action proposed shall aim at building an operational ethics and methodological framework facilitating that decision makers at national and EU level are provided with reliable evidence originating from cutting edge research
THE FOCUS: Decision takers and policymakers should be seeking evidence to support their work from the range of expertise on offer. Although the concept of ‘expertise’ has come under significant challenge it is clear that any errors, fraud or corrupt practices by researchers can lead to serious damage to the social, economic and cultural structure of society, as well as impacting the physical environment. But sound, reliable, transparent research, not driven by ideology or subservient to it and undeclared vested interests, produces robust evidence that can benefit social wellbeing and societal progress. It is in the interests of the scientific community to ensure the evidence produced is reliable and trustworthy and ethically generated. It is in the interests of those who make policy to be able to assure the decision takers (and the general public) that evidence has been generated in the best possible way.
MAIN GOAL: To use research effectively policy makers need to trust in the validity and reliability of research findings. PRO-RES will address these constraints by delivering a supported guidance framework that is comprehensive, flexible and durable, covers the spectrum of non-medical sciences and offers practical solutions for all stakeholders that will comply with the highest standards of research ethics and integrity. This framework will take into account previous examples of good work and best practice, and drive to deliver a set of pragmatic solutions building on previous work and creating strong links with ongoing projects. In terms of post-2020 European strategic funding policy this will offer a strong and sustainable contribution to RRI via a comprehensive ethics and integrity framework similar to Oviedo/ Helsinki which will have been constructed in negotiation with relevant stakeholders and so will be acceptable to and accessible by all stakeholders. The proposed set of solutions will promote an ethics framework for research and innovation, help promote more responsible research engagements and enable policymakers to make more effective use of non-medical scientific research information. The targeted stakeholders include researchers, reviewers, regulators, research managers and policymakers and, not least, a representative range of research subjects/participants. It will not duplicate existing work – merely guide stakeholders in the direction of established existing good practices.
WHY IS SUCH A PROJECT NECESSARY? Trying to behave ethically and with integrity when conducting research can prove to be complicated given the wide range of codes, guidelines and frameworks. Regulations are diverse and inconsistent, and review practices vary considerably – between countries, institutions, disciplines and professions. As multinational and interdisciplinary research grow, it is vital that the confusion arising out of such disparate approaches should be reduced as far as possible. The action proposed shall aim at building an operational ethics and methodological framework facilitating that decision makers at national and EU level are provided with reliable evidence originating from cutting edge research
THE FOCUS: Decision takers and policymakers should be seeking evidence to support their work from the range of expertise on offer. Although the concept of ‘expertise’ has come under significant challenge it is clear that any errors, fraud or corrupt practices by researchers can lead to serious damage to the social, economic and cultural structure of society, as well as impacting the physical environment. But sound, reliable, transparent research, not driven by ideology or subservient to it and undeclared vested interests, produces robust evidence that can benefit social wellbeing and societal progress. It is in the interests of the scientific community to ensure the evidence produced is reliable and trustworthy and ethically generated. It is in the interests of those who make policy to be able to assure the decision takers (and the general public) that evidence has been generated in the best possible way.
The PRO-RES Project has produced a guidance FRAMEWORK that encourages policymakers and their advisors to seek evidence for their decisions from research that has been conducted ethically, responsibly and with integrity.
The Framework resides in https://prores-project.eu/(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre). The Framework will support policies constructed on ethical evidence, cover the wide spectrum of non-medical research and offer practical solutions for all evidence-seeking stakeholders, that will comply with the highest standards of research ethics and integrity. The Framework has been explored and tested with the appropriate constituencies and across the full range of stakeholders. These include the producers of research, disseminators and intermediaries, influencers, policy advisers, decision-makers and implementers.
To answer the “Who is this for?” question: it is for policymakers keen to use ethical evidence; it is for policy advisors seeking to offer advice based on responsible sources; it is for researchers and their funders wishing to make sure that policies will be based upon their ethically produced evidence; it is for think tanks wishing to enhance their legitimacy by demonstrating that their reports have been produced with integrity and it is also available for citizens to make their own assessment about the evidential sources of the policies that directly affect them.
Work performed, in order to create the framework:
1. Identify and categorise stakeholders, guidelines and codes, across the EU area and across non-medical disciplines, to ensure that the organisation and channelling of expertise, in the context of policy advice, is well understood.
2. Drafting the Framework: PRO-RES worked towards building a research ethics and integrity framework devised cooperatively with, and seen as acceptable by, the full range of relevant stakeholders and similar in form to Oviedo/Helsinki.This included several consultation processes, such as: thematic workshops, in depth person interviews, online events, discussion in various fora and one conference.
3. Testing the Framework: ‘Bench testing’ of the framework (in vitro) will be conducted in ‘thought experiments’ with working groups selected from the partners.
4. Finalising the Framework / Dissemination: The final framework will incorporate all the feedback from the consultation process as well as the test cases. We have consulted several hundreds of stakeholders, across europe, from various non-medical disciplines and across the "policy advise" spectrum.
5. Roadmapping activities for future ethical issues
6. Financial tools to calculate the impact of non-adoption of ethical guidelines in large scale projects, aimed at giving a new tool for business regulators and highlighting the economic cost of ethical non-compliance.
The Framework resides in https://prores-project.eu/(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre). The Framework will support policies constructed on ethical evidence, cover the wide spectrum of non-medical research and offer practical solutions for all evidence-seeking stakeholders, that will comply with the highest standards of research ethics and integrity. The Framework has been explored and tested with the appropriate constituencies and across the full range of stakeholders. These include the producers of research, disseminators and intermediaries, influencers, policy advisers, decision-makers and implementers.
To answer the “Who is this for?” question: it is for policymakers keen to use ethical evidence; it is for policy advisors seeking to offer advice based on responsible sources; it is for researchers and their funders wishing to make sure that policies will be based upon their ethically produced evidence; it is for think tanks wishing to enhance their legitimacy by demonstrating that their reports have been produced with integrity and it is also available for citizens to make their own assessment about the evidential sources of the policies that directly affect them.
Work performed, in order to create the framework:
1. Identify and categorise stakeholders, guidelines and codes, across the EU area and across non-medical disciplines, to ensure that the organisation and channelling of expertise, in the context of policy advice, is well understood.
2. Drafting the Framework: PRO-RES worked towards building a research ethics and integrity framework devised cooperatively with, and seen as acceptable by, the full range of relevant stakeholders and similar in form to Oviedo/Helsinki.This included several consultation processes, such as: thematic workshops, in depth person interviews, online events, discussion in various fora and one conference.
3. Testing the Framework: ‘Bench testing’ of the framework (in vitro) will be conducted in ‘thought experiments’ with working groups selected from the partners.
4. Finalising the Framework / Dissemination: The final framework will incorporate all the feedback from the consultation process as well as the test cases. We have consulted several hundreds of stakeholders, across europe, from various non-medical disciplines and across the "policy advise" spectrum.
5. Roadmapping activities for future ethical issues
6. Financial tools to calculate the impact of non-adoption of ethical guidelines in large scale projects, aimed at giving a new tool for business regulators and highlighting the economic cost of ethical non-compliance.
The full Framework includes:
A statement – The Accord – which lays out the principles for ethical research. The statement is for all who are concerned to ensure policies are based upon ethical evidence. This has been based on consultation with non-medical sciences and is focused on providing evidence to policy makers. We have taken into consideration the various possible sources of evidence generations and tried to incorporate concerns and realities of non academic evidence providers.
A Toolbox to supplement and operationalise the Accord for policy makers and advisors to help them identify ethical evidence that supports their decision-making. It will also help researchers, funders and other stakeholders to produce ethical evidence.
Additional supportive Resources that complement the Accord and the Toolbox, including a financial tools to calculate the impact of non-adoption of ethical guidelines in large scale projects, aimed at giving a new tool for business regulators and highlighting the economic cost of ethical non-compliance.
The Framework will support policies constructed on ethical evidence, cover the wide spectrum of non-medical research and offer practical solutions for all evidence-seeking stakeholders, that will comply with the highest standards of research ethics and integrity
A statement – The Accord – which lays out the principles for ethical research. The statement is for all who are concerned to ensure policies are based upon ethical evidence. This has been based on consultation with non-medical sciences and is focused on providing evidence to policy makers. We have taken into consideration the various possible sources of evidence generations and tried to incorporate concerns and realities of non academic evidence providers.
A Toolbox to supplement and operationalise the Accord for policy makers and advisors to help them identify ethical evidence that supports their decision-making. It will also help researchers, funders and other stakeholders to produce ethical evidence.
Additional supportive Resources that complement the Accord and the Toolbox, including a financial tools to calculate the impact of non-adoption of ethical guidelines in large scale projects, aimed at giving a new tool for business regulators and highlighting the economic cost of ethical non-compliance.
The Framework will support policies constructed on ethical evidence, cover the wide spectrum of non-medical research and offer practical solutions for all evidence-seeking stakeholders, that will comply with the highest standards of research ethics and integrity