I thougt some of you might be interested in this. >Mime-Version: 1.0 >Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 16:22:34 -0500 >Reply-To: Perspectives on Ethical Issues in Science and Technology > <xxxxxx@GWUVM.GWU.EDU> >Sender: Perspectives on Ethical Issues in Science and Technology > <xxxxxx@GWUVM.GWU.EDU> >From: Alexander Fowler <xxxxxx@AAAS.ORG> >Subject: HHS Commission on Research Integrity >To: Multiple recipients of list AAASEST <xxxxxx@GWUVM.GWU.EDU> > > AAASEST: > > As a follow-up to our earlier discussion on the work of the HHS > Commission on Research Integrity, I wanted to pass along the following > definitions of research misconduct that are part of the Commission's > recommendations to the Secretary of HHS. Its final report will be > submitted some time later this Fall. > > Do you think these definitions help to clarify what constitutes > research misconduct and how the federal government ought to address > it? > > Sincerely, > Alex > > Alexander Fowler > Project Coordinator > AAAS Scientific Freedom, Responsibility and Law Program > 1333 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 > (202) 326-6600; Fax (202) 289-4950; xxxxxx@aaas.org > http://www.aaas.org/spp/dspp/sfrl/sfrl.htm > > PS: The Summer '95 issue of the _Professional Ethics Report_ is now on > our WWW homepage (see the above address). It features a cover story > on the Carnegie Mellon Cyberporn Study and the Ethics, Law and Public > Policy column is on two recent court decisions that impact limitation > of liability provisions for engineering contracts. We'll be mailing > out the print version of the newsletter later next week. > > > > **************************************** > * FINAL VERSION--8/1/95 * > * HHS COMMISSION ON RESEARCH INTEGRITY * > **************************************** > > FORMS OF PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT INVOLVING RESEARCH > > The Federal Government has an interest in professional misconduct > involving the use of federal funds in research, as covered by the > following definitions: > > I. Research Misconduct > > It is fundamental principle that scientists be truthful and fair in > the conduct of research and the dissemination of its results. > Violation of this principle is research misconduct. > > Specifically, research misconduct is significant misbehavior that > fails to respect the intellectual contributions or property of others, > that intentionally impedes the progress of research, or that risks > corrupting the scientific record (see Note) or compromising the > integrity of scientific practices. Such behaviors are unethical and > unacceptable in proposing, conducting or reporting research or in > reviewing the proposals or research reports of others. > > Examples of research misconduct include but are not limited to the > following: > > 1. Misappropriation: An investigator or reviewer shall not > intentionally or recklessly > > a. plagiarize, which shall be understood to mean the > presentation of the words or ideas of another as his or > her own, without attribution appropriate for the medium > or presentation; or > b. make use of any information in breach of any duty of > confidentiality. > > 2. Interference: An investigator or reviewer shall not > intentionally and without authorization take or sequester or > materially damage any research-related property of another, > including without limitation the apparatus, reagents, > biological materials, writings, data, hardware, software, or > any other substance or device used or produced in the conduct > of research. > > 3. Misrepresentation: An investigator or reviewer shall not with > intent to deceive, or in reckless disregard for the truth, > > a. State or present a material or significant falsehood; or > b. Omit a fact so that what is stated or presented as a > whole states or presents a material or significant > falsehood. > > These behaviors are a subset of the professional misconduct that is > the responsibility of institutions where research is conducted. > > II. Obstruction Of Investigations Of Research Misconduct > > As part of its interest in research misconduct, the Federal Government > also has an important interest in protecting the integrity of > investigations into reported incidents of research misconduct. > Accordingly, obstruction of investigations of research misconduct > related to federal funding also constitutes misconduct that undermines > the interests of the public, the scientific community, and the Federal > Government. > > Prohibited obstruction of investigations of research misconduct > consists of intentionally withholding or destroying evidence in > violation of a duty to disclose or preserve; falsifying evidence; > subornation or giving of false testimony; and attempting to intimidate > or retaliate against persons who are witnesses, potential witnesses, > or potential leads to witnesses or evidence before, during, or after > the commencement of any formal or informal proceeding. > > III. Noncompliance With Research Regulations > > Responsible conduct in research includes compliance with applicable > federal research regulations. Regulations of this type include (but > are not limited to) those governing the use of biohazardous materials > and human and animal subjects in research. > > Serious noncompliance, after notice, with such regulations undermines > the interests of the public, the scientific community, and the Federal > Government and constitutes misconduct. > > NOTE: The record encompasses any documentation or presentation of > research, oral or written, published or unpublished. > ***************** Anthony M. Boccanfuso, Ph.D. Director Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio 43403 419-372-2481; 419-372-0304 (fax)
