Integrity of our research

Research includes:

• any activity associated with an investigation that is undertaken to gain original knowledge, understanding or insight
• development of new products and processes that have application or uses in society.

Policy and procedures

VU’s Research Integrity Policy encompasses seven broad areas of research conduct that are underpinned by nine principles for the responsible and ethical conduct of research.

VU’s Management of Potential Breaches of the Australian Code Procedure describes the University’s processes in relation to alleged breaches of the Code and applys to complaints or allegations of breaches of research integrity about any Victoria University researcher (student or staff) and/or any research conducted under the auspices of Victoria University.

VU's Authorship Procedure covers the principles and processes for determining authorship and handling disputes between authors of all forms of research output where one or more of the authors are Victoria University staff and/or students.

VU's Research Data Management Procedure describes the University's processes in relation to the management of Research Data at the University, from initial research conceptualisation through to research project conclusion

Area of research conduct

The seven broad areas of research conduct are outlined in the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research. They are:

• management of research data and primary materials
• supervision of research trainees
• publication and dissemination of research findings
• authorship (outlined below)
• peer review
• managing conflicts of interest
• collaborative research with organisations and individuals outside VU.

Promoting Excellence in Research Training and Scholarship  

Australian Council of Graduate Research
The purpose of the Council is to promote excellence in research training and scholarship and to seek to maintain and continue to improve national standards for all graduate research degree programs.

Australian Council of Graduate Research – Good Practice Guidelines
Useful resource including good practice guidelines as well as other guides and good practice resources.

Disclosing and Managing Interests in Graduate Research – Guidelines
It is important is that all potential conflicts are identified and appropriately managed, and it is everyone’s responsibility to appropriately declare and manage conflicts of interest.

Principles for the responsible and ethical conduct of research

VU is committed to the nine principles and values underpinning responsible and ethical research.

We aim to ensure that all staff and students undertaking research:

• respect and protect human research participants, animals and the environment
• protect the privacy and confidentiality of research participants
• design, conduct and report research findings in an ethical and safe manner
• ensure research material and data is safely and securely stored, and disposed of in an appropriate manner
• encourage and respect freedom of expression and enquiry
• accurately and honestly report findings within a reasonable time
• acknowledge the role of others in research
• are not influenced or affected by conflicts of interest
• respond to concerns about research integrity in a fair and timely manner.

Authorship

Author responsibilities

The contribution of authors to a research publication will often vary. All authors, however, have responsibility for the validity, originality and integrity of the work. The responsibilities of authors include:

• adhering to author eligibility criteria
• ensuring accuracy of reporting and in assigning credit for work contributed
• reaching agreement on authorship in writing prior to submission of a work for review
• offering authorship to those who qualify, but not awarding authorship to those who do not meet the requirements
• acknowledging the contributions of others fairly, including funding agencies
• disclosing and managing actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest.

Authorship disputes

Disputes over authorship sometimes arise. Such disputes can delay research, hinder publication and damage relationships between collaborators. Disputes can be avoided with appropriate communication and by obtaining statement of authorship agreements early in the research process. Please see the  VU Authorship Guidelines to assist with this.

Staff and students who are uncertain or have a concern about any aspect of authorship may talk to a Research Integrity Advisor. Where a dispute arises, authors are encouraged to attempt to resolve it through direct discussion amongst the individuals involved.

Additional resources

• Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research 2018 (NHMRC Website)
• Authorship guide (NHMRC document)
• How to Handle Authorship Disputes (Committee on Publication Ethics; COPE)