Online Research Integrity Arts and Humanities course: Links to University of Sheffield policies and procedures
Whilst undertaking the Research Integrity course, you will notice that there are a number of ‘Your Context’ pods highlighted on the right hand side of the course pages. These suggest that you identify the policies, procedures or guidance that apply in your own institution, or in some cases, the national frameworks that exist. This guide has been compiled so that you can quickly and easily identify the relevant University of Sheffield and/or national context
information, where available, for each of these pods.
Pod location University of Sheffield-specific information Module 1:
Introduction Welcome
‘Find out whether your institution gives detailed definitions of 'research misconduct', 'questionable research practice' and 'responsible conduct of research'/'good research practice', and make sure you are familiar with them.’
‘The University of Sheffield’s Policy on Good Research & Innovation Practices (GRIP) sets out its definitions for responsible conduct of research/good research practice, research misconduct and questionable research practices.
The full GRIP policy can be found here:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/grippolicy
Definitions of responsible conduct of research/good research practice can be found here:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/grippolicy/principles/definitions/integrity
Definitions of research misconduct and questionable research practices can be found here:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/grippolicy/principles/definitions/unacceptable and here: http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/grippolicy/annex/unacceptable Module 1: Introduction Principles and responsibilities
‘Do you know your institution's guidelines and policies for responsible research? Find them and familiarise yourself with them.’
The University of Sheffield’s key policies for responsible research are as follows:
Policy on Good Research & Innovation Practices: http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/grippolicy
Ethics Policy Governing Research Involving Human Participants, Personal Data and Human Tissue:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/ethicspolicy A list of further complementary policies can be found here:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/grippolicy/annex/complementary
Key national frameworks for research integrity include: The Concordat to Support Research Integrity:
http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/highereducation/Pages/Theconcord attosupportresearchintegrity.aspx
The Research Councils UK Policy and Guidelines on the Governance of Good Research Conduct:
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/Publications/researchers/Pages/grc.aspx The UK Research Integrity Office’s Code of Practice for Research: http://www.ukrio.org/ukR10htre/UKRIO-Code-of-Practice-for-Research1.pdf Module 1: Introduction Responding to research misconduct (Pod 1)
‘Locate and familiarise yourself with your institution's misconduct and whistleblowing policies, and any national frameworks or policies on misconduct. Find out, too, who your institution's research integrity officer or other named person responsible for handling cases of research misconduct is.’ Researchers at the University of Sheffield who come across
suspected research misconduct have a duty to immediately raise this with an appropriate authority – their supervisor, PGR tutor, principal investigator, director of research or head of department.
Whistleblowers will be treated confidentially, fairly and supportively. Honest errors or mistakes should be disclosed by researchers
transparently and quickly, and in such cases the remedy is likely to be supportive and constructive. In contrast deliberate, dangerous, negligent or corrupt deviations from accepted practices will be managed in accordance with the appropriate misconduct policy. Information about the University of Sheffield’s policies relating to research misconduct can be found here:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/grippolicy/principles/definitions/misconduct
The University’s Policy on Investigating and Responding to Allegations of Research Misconduct can be found here:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/hr/guidance/academicstaff/researchmiscond uct
The University’s Student Discipline Regulations and the Complaints Procedure can be found here:
The University’s Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblowing) Policy can be found here:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/hr/az/publicinterest Module 1: Introduction Responding to research misconduct (Pod 2)
‘You can find updates on research integrity matters from the websites of your national funding agencies or bodies dealing with research integrity.’
These may include the following:
UK Research Integrity Office: http://www.ukrio.org/
Research Councils UK: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/pages/home.aspx
Module 1: Introduction Research training and professionalism
‘Some institutions or departments may run mentoring schemes as part of the training and development of postgraduate
students. Find out whether yours is one of them.’
The University of Sheffield runs a compulsory module for all research students on research integrity and ethics, within the Doctoral
Development Programme. Further details can be found here: http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/pgr/ddpportal/reit
The University runs a mentoring scheme for research staff. Details can be found here: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ris/ecr/mentoring
Module 2: Designing Research with human participants: Definitions
‘Check online and consult with your supervisor to find out what defines 'research' and 'human participant' in your particular context’
‘Research’ and ‘human participant’ are defined in the ‘General Principles and Statements’ section of the University of Sheffield’s Ethics Policy Governing Research Involving Human Participants, Personal Data and Human Tissue:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/ethicspolicy/general-principles Module 2: Designing Research with human participants: Key principles
‘As well as the national rules governing research with human participants in your country, are there any additional rules imposed by your institution or your particular subject area? Check online and speak with your colleagues to find out.’ The University of Sheffield requires all research involving human participants, personal data or human tissue to be ethically reviewed via an appropriate procedure. The University’s Ethics Policy
Governing Research Involving Human Participants, Personal Data and Human Tissue provides information about the appropriate route for ethics approval for different kinds of research (incorporating national
requirements for health and social care research), as well as outlining the University’s own Ethics Review Procedure:
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/ethicspolicy/approval-procedure
Please note that the University’s Ethics Review Procedures are run by individual departments, within the framework set by the University. Further information relating to the process operating in your own School or Department should be available on the departmental website. Module 2: Designing Financial interests and intellectual property
‘Do you know where to find your national (if any), institutional and subject-related guidelines about CoI policies? All
institutions, for example, have a policy on IP. Do you know what yours is?’
Information about the University of Sheffield’s conflict of interest policy can be found here:
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/az/conflictofinterest
Information about the University’s policies on patents and intellectual property can be found here:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/hr/az/patent
The University’s financial regulations can be found here: http://www.shef.ac.uk/finance/regulations Module 2: Designing Workplace and environmental safety
‘Do you know your institution's guidelines and policies for responsible workplace safety? Find them and familiarise yourself with them.’
Information about the University of Sheffield’s policies and guidelines for responsible workplace safety can be found here:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/hs
Module 3: Conducting Research record
‘Find out any local, institutional or subject-specific policies regarding research record maintenance.’
The University of Sheffield’s Policy on Good Research & Innovation Practices includes guidance on good practices in managing research data, and a specific policy on research data management, which can be found here:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/grippolicy/practices/all/rdm
Module 3: Conducting Research data and material
‘In addition to the national regulationsgiven in the 'Useful advice' box, many institutions also impose their own requirements for data storage. Find out how long your institution expects you to store your research data.’
Practices includes guidance on good practices in managing research data and a specific Data Management Policy, which can be found here:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/grippolicy/practices/all/rdm
Module 3: Conducting Research data and material
• ‘Find out what the data sharing and security policies are in your particular institution and department.
• Take a look at your own institution's website and locate any appropriate information.’
The University of Sheffield’s Data Management Policy, including information about data sharing and security, can be found here:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/grippolicy/practices/all/rdm
Further information can also be found in the University Library’s ‘Information for Researchers’ webpages:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/services/researchers
Module 4: Reporting Plagiarism
‘Find out and familiarise yourself with your institution's policy on plagiarism.’
The University of Sheffield’s Policy on Good Research & Innovation Practices includes clarification of the University’s position on what is meant by unacceptable research practices (such as plagiarism):
http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/grippolicy/annex/unacceptable
Information for postgraduate research students about plagiarism can also be found in the Code of Practice for Research Degree
Programmes: http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/pgr/code/plagiarism Module 4: Reporting
Authorship
‘Find and familiarise yourself with your institution's policies on authorship.’
The University of Sheffield’s Policy on Good Research & Innovation Practices includes good practices in authorship and
acknowledgement: http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/grippolicy/practices/all/authorship Module 5: Responsibilities to society Advocacy
‘Some institutions provide policies and advice on what type of issue researchers may advocate for. Find out whether yours is one of them. In addition, if you are called upon as an expert witness in a court case, your institution should be able to provide you with guidance on this.’
The University of Sheffield’s Policy on Good Research & Innovation Practices includes good practices in public engagement and
demonstrating public benefit (encompassing advocacy): http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/other/gov-ethics/grippolicy/practices/all/publicengage Module 5: Responsibilities to society Responsibility to society
‘Find out the rules and regulations that operate in your particular geographical regions and subject discipline.’ The University of Sheffield has decided not to permit any research that is funded by tobacco companies. Other rules and regulations may operate in your particular subject discipline
