Welcome

Learning outcomes

Explain the relationship between the responsible conduct of research and research integrity
List the basic principles used in Ireland to judge responsible research practice
Identify the sources of professional guidance on responsibility in your field of research
Explain the role of institutions in promoting responsible research practice
Explain how the public responsibilities researchers have are developed and implemented.

Using the module

Welcome to Research Integrity! This course focuses on the core responsibilities required throughout the research lifecycle.

The course is designed to gradually build up your understanding and skills. We recommend that you complete the modules in the order given, but they have been designed so you can access each of them independently according to your own requirements and those of your institution.

If this is the first time you have accessed the Research Integrity course, or if you need a brief reminder, here is some information on how the screens are organised, and some of the tools and features that are used throughout:

Content

The centre of each screen contains the core content for each course, presented as either text, interactive activities, graphics or videos
Text highlighted in a box preceded by an arrow contains instructions on how to navigate the activities that follow
Terms highlighted like this are clickable glossary terms, and can be clicked on to access pop-up boxes containing definitions of key terms
Note that your responses to the notemaking and text entry activities (where you type responses in the space provided) can be saved and used as part of your ongoing work.

Text/print versions

We aim to make our courses as accessible as possible. However, in case you find any of our interactive activities difficult to operate via mouse, keyboard or any other means, we provide a 'text only version' for every screen, which will present the content in a simplified, text-based format. This includes transcripts for video and audio files, increased font sizes for greater readability.

Look out for the Text/print version button, located at the top right of any screen in the course, to toggle this feature.

You may also use this feature to activate a print-friendly version of any screen, in case you would like to print and keep the content for your notes.

Pods

Throughout this course, you will find additional information in 'pods'. You can interact with these buttons to enrich your learning experience, as they contain extra content to expand on key points from the main screen, as well as links to useful external resources:

Glossary: Contains the glossary for the entire course.
Additional information: Contains extra content to expand on key points from the main screen.
Useful links: Contains helpful links to external websites and resources that expand on, contextualise or demonstrate the topics discussed in the module.
Your context: Contains links and information specific to your context and/or institution.
Module evaluation: Contains a short survey for you to rate and send us feedback on the module you have completed.

Focal points

These icons are designed to draw your awareness to the adjacent content in the following ways:

Key points: Indicates crucial learning points that are worth remembering.
Discipline-specific content: Indicates that the content or activity has relevance for a range of different fields of research. You are encouraged to consider how this content may be applicable to your own discipline. You may be presented with a menu, where you can select an option that is closest to your field of research.

Polls

The poll questions in some modules are designed to help you:

Think about your own research context and perspective
Compare your context and perspective with those of others taking this course.

When answering a poll question, you may view the results of how other learners have answered, with responses displayed as percentages. All responses are anonymous.

If you have any concerns about your research context or find that you have an outlying perspective, you should talk with a mentor or trusted colleague to get advice.

Quiz

At the end of each module, you have the opportunity to test your learning with a multiple-choice quiz. This consists of ten questions with up to four possible answers for you to select the correct one.

You can take the quiz more than once (a new set of questions will appear).

Technical support

If you require technical support with using the course, please refer to the Technical support button, located at the top right of any screen in the course.

Expert panel

Professor Nick Steneck, PhD :"
Lead advisor and author

Nick Steneck is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Michigan, and is also a research integrity consultant and the co-founder of the World Conferences on Research Integrity. He has published books and articles on the history of research misconduct policy, the responsible conduct of research, RCR training and research on research integrity.

Dr Antony Walsh :"
Adapting author

Antony Walsh is Head of Research Ethics, Governance and Compliance at the University of Exeter. With over 13 years of experience, he delivers training and leads policy implementation, specialising in supporting researchers in research ethics, integrity and governance. Antony earned his PhD in Francophone Studies from the University of Leeds.

Authors of additional material

Dr Simon Kolstoe, Senior Lecturer in Research Ethics at the University of Portsmouth
Dr Thomas L. Van Valey, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Western Michigan University
Samantha Trace, MRes, Research Assistant, University of Portsmouth

Contributors to Irish edition

Jill Boyle, Senior Research Policy and Governance Specialist, University College Dublin
Fiona Brennan, Research Support Manager, Dublin City University
Dr Jennifer Brennan, previously Director of Research, Innovation and Engagement, Technological Higher Education Association
Dr Louise Burgoyne, Research Officer, University College Cork
Dr Maura Hiney, Adjunct Professor of Research Integrity, UCD Discovery Institute, University College Dublin
Dr John Keating, Department of Computer Science, Maynooth University
Dr Vincent Kelly, Associate Professor, Director of Transgenics, Biochemistry, Trinity College Dublin
Professor Martin Leahy, Chair of Applied Physics and Research Integrity Officer, University of Galway
Dr Steve Meaney, Head of Research Ethics and Integrity, Technological University Dublin
Ruth Moran, Graduate Research and Education Training Officer, Atlantic Technological University (Sligo)
Professor Grace Mulcahy, Research Integrity Officer, Full Professor of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, University College Dublin
Professor Ray O'Neill, Department of Physics and Research Integrity Officer, Maynooth University
Dr James O'Sullivan, Head of Innovation and Commercialisation, South East Technological University
Professor Adrian Ottewill, Full Professor of Mathematical Physics, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University College Dublin
Professor Alan Smeaton, School of Computing, Dublin City University
Dr Niall Smith, Head of Blackrock Castle Observatory, Munster Technological University

Reviewers

Rachel Beaton, Research Integrity and Governance Manager, University of Stirling
Matthew Billington, Research Integrity and Governance Officer, University of Liverpool
Stephen Chinn, PhD Researcher, University of Stirling
Heather Davies, PhD Researcher, University of Liverpool
Caroline Morais, PhD Researcher, University of Liverpool
Niall O'Loughlin, Head of Research Policy, Durham University
Danielle Smith, Research Governance and Policy Manager, University of Hull

Reviewers of Irish edition

Laura Boyle, Senior Research Officer, Teagasc – the Agriculture and Food Development Authority
Dr Jennifer Brennan, previously Director of Research, Innovation and Engagement, Technological Higher Education Association
Professor Daniel Carey, School of Humanities, University of Galway
Dr Emer Cunningham, Graduate Education Development Manager, University College Dublin
Professor Michael Healy, Vice President for Research, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
Dr Maura Hiney, Adjunct Professor of Research Integrity, UCD Discovery Institute, University College Dublin
Professor Martin Leahy, Chair of Applied Physics and Research Integrity Officer, University of Galway
Dr Siobhán Mac Sweeney, Head of Research, Munster Technological University (Tralee)
Ruth Moran, Graduate Research and Education Training Officer, Atlantic Technological University (Sligo)
Dr Eavan O'Brien, previously Assistant Director – Impact and Partnerships, Irish Research Council
Dr Barry Shanahan, Research Governance Officer, University of Limerick
Mary Sharp, Computer Science, Trinity College Dublin

Wilma Alexander :"
Accessibility advisor

Wilma Alexander is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy with Master's degrees in Human-Computer Interaction, Linguistics and Information Science. She has over 15 years of experience as a manager with the online learning team at the University of Edinburgh, where she specialised in usable and accessible digital practice, tutored on the groundbreaking Master's degree in Digital Education and developed online staff training on accessible e-learning and online tutoring skills. Since retiring from the University at the end of 2015, Wilma has provided consultancy services on all aspects of online learning, with a special focus on accessibility and usability issues.

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