Ethics in research

The core ethical principles in research ethics are:

• Respect for persons and their autonomy: Researchers must secure the informed consent of participants and respect their choices.
• Beneficence and non-maleficence: Research should deliver clear benefits that outweigh any potential risks, and harm must be minimised.
• Distributive justice: Benefits and risks should be fairly distributed among participants, with special care for vulnerable groups.

• What is the problem or issue? Clearly define the ethical question at hand.
• What information is relevant? Gather comprehensive and accurate information about the situation.
• What are the options? Explore all possible courses of action, recognising that bias or fear can limit your perspective.
• How do ethical codes, policies, and legal rules apply? Evaluate each option through the lens of ethical and legal requirements.
• Who can offer ethical advice? Seek input from colleagues, ethics committees, or professional advisors.

Adherence to research ethics promotes:

• Knowledge, truth, and error prevention: Supporting the core aims of research.
• Accountability: Ensuring public trust and credibility.
• Moral and social values: Upholding social responsibility, human rights, and environmental stewardship.
• Collaboration and innovation: Encouraging the ethical sharing of ideas and intellectual property.

• Conduct research with care, skill, and a commitment to high-quality outcomes.
• Keep promises, act sincerely, and accept personal responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the research record.
• Minimise bias in all aspects of research, including experimental design, data analysis, and peer review. Disclose conflicts of interest.
• Avoid careless errors, critically examine work, and maintain accurate records of research activities.

• Procedures for investigating misconduct should be clear, fair, timely, and constructive, with prompt implementation of remedial actions.

• Respect the rights, dignity, and safety of all individuals and minimise harm to people, animals, and the environment.
• Avoid discrimination and treat colleagues fairly, adhering to ethical and legal standards.
• Manage data appropriately, maintain confidentiality, and respect intellectual property rights.
• Ensure proper care in animal research and minimise harm while adhering to ethical principles in human research.
• Acknowledge contributions appropriately and avoid plagiarism or misuse of unpublished work.

• Act honestly in all research activities, including reporting data, results, and methods.
• Recognise and disclose conflicts of interest at every stage of research, from design to publication.
• Do not fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent data.

• Share data, ideas, and findings openly with the scientific community and the public.
• Engage with peers and the public, presenting balanced and accurate research findings.
• Publish responsibly to advance research, not merely personal career goals.
• Promote societal benefit and mitigate potential harms through research and advocacy.

• Maintain and improve professional competence through lifelong learning.
• Support the development of others, including mentoring doctoral candidates, fostering good practices, and promoting their independence.

Examples include but are not limited to:

• Misleading publication practices, such as submitting or publishing the same paper in multiple journals without disclosure.
• Exploiting collaborators or students, such as withholding credit or overworking individuals.
• Misusing confidential information, plagiarising, or falsifying data.
• Ignoring approved research protocols or exposing individuals to health risks.
• Rigging experiments, sabotaging others’ work, or engaging in discriminatory or inappropriate workplace behaviour.

• By prioritising ethics, principles, and sustainability, you contribute to responsible, impactful, and credible research that benefits society and the environment.