Integrity in scientific research : creating an environment that promotes responsible conduct / Committee on Assessing Integrity in Research Environments, Board on Health Sciences Policy and Division of Earth and Life Studies, Institute of Medicine, National Research Council of the National Academies.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Institute of Medicine (U.S.). Committee on Assessing Integrity in Research Environments.

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.)

United States. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. Office of Research Integrity.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Research--Moral and ethical aspects.

Research.

Integrity.

Research--standards.

United States.

Ethics.

Research Personnel.

Ethics, Institutional.

Social Control, Informal.

Scientific Misconduct.

Medical Subjects:

Research--standards.

United States.

Ethics.

Research Personnel.

Ethics, Institutional.

Social Control, Informal.

Scientific Misconduct.

Physical Description:

xiv, 202 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : The National Academies Press, [2002]

Summary:

Most Americans have a positive attitude toward science and technology. Public confidence in consumer products is boosted by claims that products are "scientifically tested" or "scientifically proven." The public's stamp of approval, however, is not a given. For the scientific community to retain the public's good graces, the people and institutions involved in scientific research must maintain an environment that promotes integrity and accountability.

So given the complexity of contemporary science, how can researchers, administrators, and funders act effectively against fraud and misconduct? How can research institutions promote ethical conduct?

Recognizing the inconsistency of human behavior, Integrity in Scientific Research stresses the important role that research institutions play in providing an integrity-rich environment, citing the need for institutions to provide staff with training and education, policies and procedures, and tools and support systems. It identifies practices that characterize integrity in such areas as peer review and research on human subjects and weighs the strengths and limitations of self-evaluation efforts by these institutions. In addition, it details an approach to promoting integrity during the education of researchers, including how to develop an effective curriculum.

Integrity in Scientific Research attempts to define and describe those elements that enable and encourage individuals involved with scientific research to act with integrity. Providing a framework for research and educational institutions, this important book will be essential for anyone concerned about ethics in the scientific community.

Contents:

Executive summary

1. Introduction

2. Integrity in research

3. The research environment and its impact on integrity in research

4. Institutional approaches to fostering integrity in research

5. Promoting integrity in research through education

6. Evaluation by self-assessment

7. Concluding remarks and recommendations

Appendixes.

Notes:

"Support for this project was provided by the Office of Research Integrity, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services."--T.p. verso.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0309085233

0309084792

OCLC:

50756702