Good Research Practice

1.0  Principles of Good Research Practice

The principles of good scientific practice are largely self evident. They include such fundamentals as maintaining high professional standards, careful documentation of research results, questioning and reasoning around one's own findings, and attributing honestly the contribution made by members of one's research group and collaborators. It is particularly important in the context of attribution to fully acknowledge and give credit to results produced by postgraduate and, in some cases undergraduate students. Visiting researchers should also be given due acknowledgement and credit for their contribution. Stringent standards are needed in terms of the leadership of research groups, the mentoring of young researchers and in the secure storage of primary research data. Health and safety issues, and environmental management are another high priority area. It goes without saying that misconduct, for example over plagiarism, misappropriation of research funds and lack of integrity in submitting research proposals are also areas where the Institution expects the highest standards of behaviour and performance of its staff. The section on leadership and organisation below spells out how the information in the policy document is disseminated within the Institution through websites, web links and published codes of practice.