(May 2024) To better understand how the UK can tackle research misconduct, in early 2023 the UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO) convened an expert working group, chaired by Tracey Brown OBE, to review the challenges faced by research employers, funders, publishers, and researchers in investigating allegations of misconduct.
The findings are published in UKRIO’s report, Barriers to Investigating and Reporting Research Misconduct. The working group found that, while the parties in the system experienced the issues very differently, common themes of lack of clarity and confidence, and the need for culture change, came through strongly. It also found that, while much attention has been given in parliamentary and other discussions to a possible future regulator, there are immediate steps that can be taken to reduce the barriers to effective investigations and improve the experience for all parties.
The report makes four key proposals for the research community to respond to these challenges together:
- The adoption of standardised requirements and procedures detailing how allegations of research misconduct are investigated and reported
- Professional research misconduct investigation training for all sectors undertaking research
- A flagging system that promotes transparency, destigmatises allegations of research misconduct, and normalises early raising of concerns
- National infrastructure to collect and report on research misconduct cases annually
Find out more here.
