Insights from the literature review on behavioural ethics, moral psychology & case-based methodologies and review of real-life case studies of research misconduct

Authors

Slesinger, Ian, Dilger, Jana, Kumar, Richa, Vinders, Julie, Rodrigues, Rowena, Simm, Kadri, Zamenska, Jay, Lang, Heidi, van den Hooff, Susanne, Fanelli, Daniele, Coman, Alina, Husum, Tonje Lossius, Tammeleht, Anu, Löfström, Erika, Mežinska, Signe & Lasmane, Eliza

About this Deliverable

The first part of this deliverable is a scoping review of the literature examining 147 articles published in peer review academic journals over the past ten years (2013-2023) on the promotion of research ethics and integrity (REI), and breaches of these standards including research misconduct (RM) and questionable research practices (QRPs). It also identifies current challenges, gaps in knowledge and practice, and opportunities for both further research, and policy and educational interventions to promote REI and mitigate RM and QRPs. Findings on state-of-the-art knowledge in REI research suggest some areas of consensus, including on the greater risks for early career researchers to commit RM and the value of responsible conduct of research (RCR) training, particularly approaches that emphasize ethical problem-solving skills. However, the study also identified a lack of consensus in other areas, including the rehabilitation and reintegration of researchers who committed RM.

Key findings extracted from the review contribute to the understanding that the environment in which researchers operate and other contextual factors significantly influence RCR, rather than primarily the individual behavior of researchers. As such, these environmental and contextual factors require further research and policy attention.

The second part reports the findings of a review of real-life cases on REI, RM and QRPs. This review provides an in-depth qualitative evaluation of 23 cases that have appeared in the news media in the last five years across four partner countries within the BEYOND consortium – Estonia (3 cases), Latvia (5 cases), the Netherlands (9 cases) and the UK (6 cases). It thematically analyses these cases in relation to reporting and whistle-blowing, gender aspects (including discrimination, sexual harassment, and other forms of gender-based violence) and researcher working conditions, and identifies several novel and emerging factors affecting REI.

Significant findings from this review include: the increasingly complex gender dimensions of REI in contemporary research; the changing nature of senior researchers’ responsibility for RM; the roles of social media and online platforms in uncovering and publicizing RM; and the growing politicization of REI concerns in relation to wider political controversies. The review uses these findings to suggest evidence-based practical interventions to better monitor and prevent RM and QRPs, and offers recommendations for further research based on
gaps identified in its analysis