Integrity in Research
91成人 is committed to fostering a culture of responsible, ethical and high鈥憅uality research. Research Integrity underpins trust, accountability and the value of research outcomes.
All researchers and students must conduct research in accordance with the
and the .
Strong research integrity builds trust in research outcomes, protects participants, data and the environment, supports high鈥憅uality and reproducible research, and safeguards the reputation of both researchers and the University.
Understanding Research Integrity
Research integrity means conducting research that is honest, transparent and accountable, as well as rigorous and reproducible. It also involves respecting participants, animals and the environment throughout the research process.
These principles apply across all aspects of research activity, including authorship and publication, research data management, supervision and mentoring, conflicts of interest, peer review and collaboration, and emerging practices such as the use of artificial intelligence in research.
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Research Integrity Advisors (RIAs)
Research Integrity Advisors (RIAs) provide independent, confidential advice to staff and students on responsible research conduct.
They can assist with:
- understanding research integrity requirements
- navigating complex or uncertain situations
- discussing potential breaches or concerns before making a report
- promoting good research practices within academic units
RIAs play an important role in supporting early guidance, prevention and a culture of integrity across the University.
If you are unsure about a research conduct issue or a potentially questionable research practice, you can contact an RIA for confidential advice on the Code and the University鈥檚 policies and procedures, as well as options for taking action.
Advisors can also guide you on how to make an allegation of a potential breach of the Code; however, they do not investigate or assess allegations, will not contact the person concerned, and are not involved in any subsequent inquiries.
Breaches and Research Misconduct
A failure to meet the standards set out in the may constitute a breach or research misconduct.
Some examples include:
- conducting research without required approvals
- fabrication or falsification of data
- plagiarism or duplicate publication
- failure to manage or retain research data
- inappropriate authorship practices
- failure to declare conflicts of interest
Serious or repeated breaches may be considered research misconduct, particularly where conduct is intentional, reckless or negligent.
Reporting and Managing Concerns
The University encourages the responsible reporting of concerns about research conduct.
All concerns are confidentially managed, centrally triaged and assessed in line with principles of fairness, impartiality and transparency.
The investigation process includes:
- Receipt and triage
- Preliminary assessment
- Determination of next steps
- Research Investigation (if required)
- Outcome and actions
Research Integrity Training
The University provides training and guidance to support researchers and students in applying responsible research practices.
This includes:
- (login required)
- (available in the Research Training vUWS site)
- (login required)
Contact Us
For support, guidance or to discuss a matter confidentially, please contact Research Integrity.