Research integrity

Research carried out with a high level of integrity upholds values of honesty, rigour, transparency and open communication, as well as care and respect for those involved in research and accountability for a positive research environment. These values, and the behaviours they instil, are central to a healthy research culture, whether in public or private research settings.

The research community is overwhelmingly motivated by these values. However, systemic pressures, such as the incentives offered to researchers and research organisations, can make it difficult to uphold these principles.

Research conducted with a high level of integrity is more trustworthy – and trusted – by other researchers, by users of research and by society in general.

The role of UKRI

UKRI sets clear expectations about the environment and the ways in which the research it supports should be conducted. It does this through a set of funding policies and terms and conditions, backed up by guidance and an active funding assurance programme.

UKRI convenes other funders and stakeholders to consider actions that will encourage culture change to address the systemic pressures noted above, and so improve integrity in research. We are developing an evidence base to inform the ways in which UKRI and other stakeholders can support research integrity.

We will continue working across UKRI to improve and develop our own policies and processes, for example the use of the Résumé for Researchers narrative CV format in grant applications.

Promoting research integrity in the UK

In 2018, the Commons Science and Technology Committee published its report of an inquiry into research integrity (PDF, 1.2MB). A key recommendation was that UKRI set up a national research integrity committee. The government and UKRI responded to the Commons Committee report and following wide engagement with the sector we are now establishing the UK Committee on Research Integrity (UK CORI) as a free-standing committee for three years.

The committee will champion research integrity in the UK, working closely with other organisations like UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO) and the Concordat to Support Research Integrity Signatories Group, developing, identifying and sharing good practice. The committee will be responsible for developing and sharing evidence about research integrity across the UK, providing expertise and promoting UK research nationally and internationally to influence discussions about research integrity globally.

Applications have now closed for the inaugural chair and members of UK CORI. When available, information about the appointed chair and members will be published on this page.

The Commons Science and Technology Committee demonstrated their continued focus on integrity and integrity-related issues with the recent inquiry into reproducibility and research integrity. Read UKRIs response.

As part of our work to develop an evidence base to inform the ways in which UKRI and other stakeholders can support research integrity, we are currently working with the sector to undertake two projects:

  • exploring research integrity indicators
  • investigating information sharing between funders, publishers and research organisations, relating to research conduct.

The identification and development of robust indicators of the main elements of research integrity, including honesty, rigour and transparency, could help track improvements in culture and environment. That is why, in collaboration with GuildHE and Cancer Research UK, UKRI is exploring what indicators of research integrity exist, or could be proposed, that are valid, reliable, ethical and practical, and will open a national and international discussion on next steps. Visit the project page to find out more.

Research organisations, funders and publishers have various responsibilities when they become aware of concerns about research conduct. Some of these responsibilities involve decisions about potentially sharing information with other organisations. UKRI is working with partners to convene a series of fact-finding workshops to identify current practice, trends and challenges. The findings will be published as a synthesis report to provide an initial evidence base for the sector.

National and international initiatives

We are a signatory to the 2019 concordat to support research integrity. It outlines five important commitments that those engaged in research can make to help maintain the highest standards of rigour and integrity. It also makes a clear statement about the responsibilities of researchers, employers and funders of research.

As a signatory to the concordat, we have produced an annual narrative statement on research integrity for the year to 31 March 2020 (PDF, 184KB).

Previously, the research councils produced annual narrative statements on research integrity for:

We provide support to the UK Reproducibility Network, which is a national peer-led consortium that aims to ensure the UK retains its place as a centre for world-leading research. They do this by investigating the factors that contribute to robust research, promoting training activities, and disseminating best practice. In September 2021 UKRN received significant funding to drive uptake of open research practices across the sector from the Research England Development (RED) Fund.

We also support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment (DORA), and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.

The 2020 integrity landscape report

Vitae, working with UK Research Integrity Office and the UK Reproducibility Network, was commissioned by UKRI to conduct a study into the effects of incentives in the research system on researcher behaviour.

The study, overseen by an expert advisory group, was conducted through an extensive literature review, a survey, researcher workshops and interviews, collectively reaching over 1,500 researchers and representatives of stakeholder organisations. The final report synthesises the findings of these activities:

Bullying and harassment

We acknowledge the close link between research integrity and the need to foster safe and inclusive environments for research and innovation. Tackling bullying and harassment is a priority for UKRI and integral to its wider vision for equality, diversity and inclusion.

Key resources

You can find out more about:

Get in touch

For enquiries about our work to support research integrity, or to be kept up to date on the development of the UK Committee on Research Integrity, email us at: researchintegrity@ukri.org

Last updated: 14 December 2021

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