Code of good practice in research

This Code of Good Practice in Research outlines the University of Dundee’s (the University’s) standards for ethical, rigorous and transparent research and gives effect to its commitments as a signatory to the Concordat to Support Research Integrity (2025). It applies to all individuals conducting or supporting research under the University’s auspices and is underpinned by the Concordat’s core principles, with clear expectations for open research, FAIR data, responsible conduct and transparent disclosure of partnerships and funding. The Vice-Principal for Research and Innovation holds institutional responsibility for research integrity, supported by defined processes for raising concerns, investigating misconduct and strengthening research culture through training, governance and annual reporting.

1. Purpose

   This Code of Good Practice in Research sets out the principles, standards and responsibilities that underpin all research (as defined by Frascati) conducted under the auspices of the University. The University is committed to fostering a culture of research integrity and to ensuring that research is conducted in a manner that is ethical, responsible, transparent and robust, in line with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity (2025). This Code operationalises the University's commitments as a signatory to the Concordat and aligns with all of its principles, expectations and recommended practices. The University undertakes activities to ensure that all researchers are aware of these principles and requirements, and reports on this activity through an annual research integrity statement published on its website. (Annual Statements can be found on the Concordant Support Research Integrity web page) This Code applies across all disciplines and all stages of the research lifecycle.

2. Scope

   This Code applies to:

   • All staff engaged in research, research support or postgraduate student supervision
   • Professional services staff involved directly in supporting research activity
   • Postgraduate research students
   • Visiting researchers, emeritus and honorary staff engaged in research
   • Contractors and collaborators conducting research under the University's name or using its facilities

   It applies to all research activities, including proposal development, funding applications, data collection, analysis, publication, peer review and dissemination.

3. Principles of research integrity

   The University adopts the five principles of research integrity set out in the Concordat to Support Research Integrity:

   Honesty; Rigour; Transparency and open communication; Care and respect; Accountability.

   These principles underpin this Code and all associated research policies and procedures.

   1. Honesty

      Honesty is fundamental to all research activity and requires researchers to be truthful and transparent in their own actions and in their engagement with the work of others. It applies across the full research lifecycle, including the development of research ideas, experimental design, data generation and analysis, authorship, funding, publication, and the acknowledgement of the direct and indirect contributions of colleagues, collaborators and others. Researchers must present methods, data, interpretations and claims accurately and fairly, and must not engage in plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, misrepresentation or other practices that undermine the integrity of the research record.

   2. Rigour

      Rigour is demonstrated through the use of appropriate and robust methods, and through adherence to recognised or emerging disciplinary norms, standards of practice and agreed protocols. Researchers are expected to maintain clear, accurate and complete records of research design, procedures and results, including interim findings, to support transparency, reproducibility and the robust interpretation of research outcomes. The integrity of the research record should be protected through secure and rigorous approaches.

   3. Transparency and open communication

      Openness and transparency are fundamental to research integrity and apply to all those involved in the research process. Researchers should support the responsible sharing of ideas, methods, data, and results, underpinned by appropriate data management, while respecting the integrity of the research record and balancing confidentiality, intellectual property, and the potential effects of dissemination. This includes a commitment to the Principles of Open Research, ensuring that, wherever possible, research outputs, data, software, and methods are made openly available in a way that is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR). In addition, researchers must ensure clear disclosure of international partnerships, funding sources and any relevant commitments, and manage conflicts of interest transparently in line with the University's research governance and Trusted Research requirements.

   4. Care and respect

      Care and respect underpin responsible research and apply to all those involved in, or affected by, research. Researchers must act with due regard for the dignity, rights, safety and wellbeing of research participants, collaborators and communities, and for the welfare of animals, the environment and cultural heritage, in accordance with ethical, legal and professional standards.

   5. Accountability

      Accountability requires researchers, research leaders and the University to take responsibility for the conduct and outcomes of research. Researchers are expected to comply with this Code and associated policies, to declare and manage conflicts of interest, and to raise concerns about research integrity responsibly, while the University is responsible for providing appropriate governance, oversight and mechanisms for addressing concerns and strengthening research practice.

4. Definitions

   1. Research integrity

      Research integrity refers to the conduct of research in accordance with ethical, professional and legal standards, ensuring that research is trustworthy, responsible and of high quality throughout its lifecycle.

   2. Research misconduct

      Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

      • Fabrication: Making up data, results or documentation and presenting them as real
      • Falsification: Manipulating research processes, materials, or data in a misleading way.
      • Plagiarism: Using others' work or ideas without proper acknowledgement.
      • Misrepresentation, including:
        • Incorrect authorship or attribution
        • Data, including deliberate concealment, selective reporting or misrepresentation of findings
        • Undeclared conflicts of interest
        • False qualifications or publication records
      • Failure to meet legal, ethical, and professional obligations, such as:
        • Not complying with requirements for human participants, animals, or the environment
        • Breaching duty of care or failing to obtain informed consent
        • Misusing personal data or breaking confidentiality
        • Misconduct in peer review (e.g. undisclosed conflicts, misuse of privileged information)
      • Improper handling of misconduct allegations, such as covering up issues, retaliating against whistleblowers, or misusing legal agreements to silence concerns

      Honest error, differences of interpretation or unintentional mistakes do not constitute research misconduct, though they may require corrective action.

   3. Questionable Research Practices (QRPs)

      Questionable research practices are behaviours that fall short of best practice but may not meet the threshold of research misconduct, such as poor data management, inadequate supervision, inappropriate statistical methods or incomplete reporting.

      QRPs are normally addressed through training, mentoring, supervision or management processes.

5. Roles and responsibilities

   Research misconduct is least likely to arise in an environment where good research practice (e.g. documentation of results, peer review of research, regular discussion and seminars) is encouraged and where there is adequate supervision at all relevant levels. It is a responsibility of Faculty Vice Principals and members of the executive team to convey clearly the standards and protocols for research in their relevant areas, and to ensure that adherence to those standards is a matter of course.

   1. University of Dundee

      The University holds ultimate responsibility for ensuring that effective systems are in place to support research integrity.

   2. Senior oversight of Research integrity

      The University's Vice Principal for Research and Innovation has overall responsibility for research integrity, including oversight of compliance with the Concordat and reporting to institutional governance bodies.

   3. Research Integrity Officer

      The Research Integrity Officer is responsible for:

      • Receiving concerns or allegations relating to research integrity via [email protected]
      • Providing confidential advice and guidance to researchers on matters relating to research integrity
      • Undertaking an initial assessment of issues raised and escalating to senior management where appropriate
      • Supporting investigation processes to ensure they proceed within policy-defined timelines and that outcomes are appropriately recorded and tracked
      • Liaising with funders, regulators, journals and external bodies where appropriate

   4. Researchers

      All researchers are responsible for:

      • Conducting research in accordance with this Code and associated policies
      • Maintaining appropriate standards of record-keeping and data management
      • Declaring conflicts of interest
      • Raising concerns about research integrity promptly and responsibly

   5. Supervisors and Research Leaders

      Supervisors and research leaders have a responsibility to:

      • Promote good research practice
      • Provide appropriate mentoring and oversight
      • Foster a supportive and inclusive research environment

6. Research practice standards

   Researchers are expected to:

   • Obtain all necessary ethical and regulatory approvals
   • Manage research data responsibly and securely
   • Ensure appropriate authorship and acknowledgement
   • Declare and manage conflicts of interest
   • Plan for the strategic dissemination of the research through open research and responsible publication practice
   • Maximise the reach and impact of the research beyond academia
   • Report research findings accurately and responsibly
   • Engage in peer review ethically and confidentially
   • Contribute to a positive research culture by providing and participating in mentorship and training related to good research practice

7. Raising concerns about research integrity

   Concerns about research integrity may be raised by staff, students, collaborators, research participants or members of the public.

   Concerns may be reported by emailing [email protected].

   Concerns may be raised anonymously, although this may limit the University's ability to investigate fully.

   The University will not tolerate retaliation against individuals who raise concerns in good faith and will take reasonable steps to protect confidentiality, subject to legal obligations.

8. Handling allegations of research misconduct

   The University takes seriously any allegation of research misconduct and has a written procedure for investigating and resolving such allegations. Any member of the University who believes that an act of research misconduct has occurred or is occurring should email [email protected].

   Allegations of research misconduct will be handled in accordance with the University's Research Misconduct Procedure.

   At a high level, the process includes:

   • Review of Concern, to determine whether the concern falls within scope and whether immediate action is required
   • Initial Investigation, to determine whether the concern raised meets the criteria for a Full Investigation to be carried out or whether alternative action(s) should be taken.
   • Full Investigation, where appropriate, conducted by an impartial panel with relevant expertise
   • Findings and actions, which may include corrections to the research record, disciplinary procedures, training or other remedial measures

   Investigations will be conducted fairly, proportionately and in a timely manner, in accordance with principles of natural justice. Respondents will have the opportunity to respond to allegations and to appeal outcomes in line with University procedures.

9. Confidentiality and information handling

   All matters relating to research integrity will be handled with due regard to:

   • Confidentiality
   • Data protection legislation
   • Freedom of information obligations

   Information will be shared only where necessary and lawful.

10. Training, development and research culture

    The University recognises that research integrity is fostered through a positive research culture.

    The University therefore commits to:

    • Providing research integrity training for staff and postgraduate researchers
    • Supporting mentoring and professional development, particularly for early-career researchers
    • Embedding research integrity expectations within supervision, leadership and research management
    • Reviewing research integrity culture through monitoring, feedback and learning from cases

11. Accountability, monitoring and reporting

    The University will:

    • Maintain appropriate records of research integrity concerns and investigations
    • Monitor the effectiveness of research integrity policies and practices
    • Publish an annual institutional statement on research integrity, including anonymised information on allegations and investigations and actions taken to strengthen research culture

12. Collaborative and international research

    This Code applies to all research conducted under the University's auspices, including collaborative, interdisciplinary and international research.

    The University supports alignment with recognised international research integrity frameworks, including the Singapore Statement on Research Integrity and the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, where appropriate.

13. Review of the Code

    This Code will be reviewed annually to ensure continued alignment with national and international standards, including updates to the Concordat to Support Research Integrity.

14. Relevant University policies

    The University's Research Governance and Policy website sets out the policies, guidance and governance procedures that staff (including University-employed and honorary staff), researchers and students must consult in order to ensure the proper conduct of research within the University. The Policy Roadmap section identifies the policies that must be read and understood before undertaking a research project, whether internally or externally funded. The website also sets out requirements and guidance relating to ethics procedures, the responsible use of metrics, trusted research, and research integrity and misconduct.

15.  Acknowledgements and bibliography

    • The Concordat to Support Research Integrity (2025) 
    • UKRIO Code of Practice for Research, UK Research Integrity Office 2025, Code of Practice for Research
    • Singapore Statement on Research Integrity
    • European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity
    • The Seven Principles of Public Life - GOV.UK
    • Principles of Good Research Conduct, University of St Andrews 2024

    Generative AI tools were used to assist with drafting and language refinement during the preparation of this document.

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