Abstract
Research integrity is fundamental to the validity and reliability of scientific findings, and for ethical conduct of research. As part of PRINTEGER (Promoting Integrity as an Integral Dimension of Excellence in Research), this study explores the views of researchers, research managers, administrators, and governance advisors in Estonia, Italy, Norway and UK, focusing specifically on their understanding of institutional and organisational influences on research integrity.
A total of 16 focus groups were conducted. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that competition is pervasive and appeared in most themes relating to integrity. The structural frameworks for research such as funding, evaluation and publication were thought to both protect and, more commonly, undermine integrity. In addition, institutional systems, including workload and research governance, shaped participants’ day-to-day work environment, also affecting research integrity. Participants also provided ideas for promoting research integrity, including training, and creating conditions that would be supportive of research integrity.
These findings support a shift away from individual blame and towards the need for structural and institutional changes, including organisations in the wider research environment, for example funding bodies and publishing companies.
A total of 16 focus groups were conducted. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that competition is pervasive and appeared in most themes relating to integrity. The structural frameworks for research such as funding, evaluation and publication were thought to both protect and, more commonly, undermine integrity. In addition, institutional systems, including workload and research governance, shaped participants’ day-to-day work environment, also affecting research integrity. Participants also provided ideas for promoting research integrity, including training, and creating conditions that would be supportive of research integrity.
These findings support a shift away from individual blame and towards the need for structural and institutional changes, including organisations in the wider research environment, for example funding bodies and publishing companies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 471–495 |
| Number of pages | 25 |
| Journal | Journal of Academic Ethics |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 3 Feb 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We would like to acknowledge several people in all four countries for helping to complete this research. At the University of Bristol, UK: Barbara Caddick and Jonathan Ives; Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway: Ellen-Marie Forsberg and Svenn-Erik Mamelund; University of Trento, Italy: Barbara Saracino; University of Tartu, Estonia: Margit Sutrop, Katrin Velbaum, Mari-Liisa Parder, Marie Soone and Kristi Lõuk. We would also like to thank the individuals who kindly participated in this research; the wider PRINTEGER team and Advisory Panel for their input into the development of this research, and in Bristol, members of the Local Stakeholder Panel and participants of the pilot focus group for their helpful comments and feedback regarding the development of the focus group protocol.
Funding Information:
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, under grant agreement No. 665926 (PRINTEGER) and from the University of Bristol. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).