Resources, Codes, Policies & Guidelines

"AI, Large Language Models, and the Responsible Conduct of Research at UNSW, opens in a new window": This document outlines UNSW’s position on the use of Generative AI in Research – which includes ChatGPT.  This document was released in March 2024.

UNSW Library, opens in a new window offers a range of resources to assist researchers in their research, opens in a new window and academic endeavours, including discipline specific resources and subject guides, opens in a new window. Of general relevance to responsible research conduct are guides on Copyright, opens in a new window, Publishing, opens in a new window and Open access, opens in a new window. The Library can help researchers assess whether a journal engages in ethical publishing, opens in a new window and provide advice on matters to consider before submitting a manuscript to a publisher.

UNSW Research, opens in a new window provides extensive information to assist researchers. To support UNSW’s commitment to creating and maintaining an environment that promotes responsible research conduct, the Division of Research & Enterprise at UNSW offers a range of core courses and professional development opportunities to enhance the capabilities of UNSW researchers.

This training for researchers develops their skills, knowledge and understanding of their obligations when undertaking research.

Research Ethics & Compliance (RECS), opens in a new window offers specialised training in human ethics, animal ethics, export controls, radiation safety, poisons, and gene technology.

Research Technology Services (ResTech), opens in a new window offers research data management training for researchers. Effective data management, opens in a new window is foundational to research best practice and protects a researcher’s work and reputation.

Here we offer a selection of external resources focusing on research integrity and responsible research conduct. This material forms part of a resource toolkit for researchers to use and consider in their research endeavours.

NeuRA , opens in a new windowhas developed a simple checklist called the QuOCCA or Quality Output Checklist and Content Assessment, opens in a new window. The stated goal of the QuOCCA is “to support researchers to conduct more open, rigorous and reproducible science, and to allow institutes and institutions to evaluate the quality of their research output” (NeuRA 2024). The QuOCCA offers a valuable tool for researchers in their assessment of peer-reviewed research papers and as a self-assessment tool for their own research.

The Center for Open Science (COS), opens in a new window was established “to start, scale, and sustain open research practices that will democratize access to research, improve inclusion of all stakeholders, enhance accountability to research integrity, facilitate the self-corrective process of science, expand transparency and sharing of all research content, and improve research rigor and reproducibility” (COS 2024). COS offers a wide range of resources, training material, events, webinars and tutorials. COS has been working on various projects including several focusing on reproducibility. COS maintains the Open Science Framework (OSF), opens in a new window to help researchers conduct research more rigorously and manage and share their work more openly.

COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics), opens in a new window was formed to promote integrity in scholarly research and its publication. COPE provides advice, guidance, education and events to all people involved in publication ethics, from authors and universities to editors and publishers. COPE offers extensive information on its website. This includes seminars, webinars and written material in the form of flowcharts, discussion documents and guidelines. The various themes covered in this material includes authorship disputes, ethics, handling misconduct, artificial intelligence, paper mills, predatory journals, image manipulation, peer review and post publication corrections.

The U.S. Office of Research Integrity (ORI), opens in a new window is the U.S. government department responsible for developing policies & procedures to promote responsible conduct of research and reviewing & monitoring research misconduct investigations. Despite certain regulatory differences between the US and Australia, the ORI website offers useful case examples and interactive videos. The Lab, opens in a new window and The Research Clinic, opens in a new window are interactive training videos that highlight research integrity principles and decision making in real life settings. ORI’s Infographics, opens in a new window also present concise information on research misconduct and the responsible conduct of research.

At UNSW the following policy documents provide advice regarding research integrity: the Code of Conduct and Values, the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and the Complaints Management and Investigations Policy and Procedure.

For complaints submitted prior to 17 May 2024, please refer to the relevant Research Code of Conduct. 

For complaints submitted prior to 12 February 2024, please refer to the relevant UNSW Research Misconduct Procedure. 

At UNSW, the other most frequently used policies and procedures with relevance to research integrity and responsible research conduct are listed below. For all other UNSW policies please visit the UNSW Governance Support Website.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), opens in a new window  and the Australian Research Council (ARC), opens in a new window provide a range of practical guidelines, tools and advice to support responsible and ethical research in Australia.

The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research and the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes 8th edition provide a framework for the conduct of all research in Australia.

Here are copies of the key national codes, policies and guidelines:

• Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research 2018 (Australian Code), opens in a new window
• National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2023), opens in a new window
• Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes 8th edition (updated 2021), opens in a new window
• Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities: Guidelines for researchers and stakeholders, opens in a new window
• Guide to Managing and Investigating Potential Breaches of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, opens in a new window
   
• A range of guides on specific topics have been developed to support institutions and researchers comply with the Australian Code:
   
  
  • Authorship, opens in a new window
  • Management of Data and Information in Research, opens in a new window
  • Peer Review, opens in a new window
  • Disclosure of Interests and Management of Conflicts of Interest, opens in a new window
  • Research Supervision, opens in a new window
  • Collaborative Research, opens in a new window
  • Publication and Dissemination of Research, opens in a new window
     
• ARC Research Integrity Policy, opens in a new window
• NHMRC Research Integrity and Misconduct Policy, opens in a new window

From time to time the University may issue public statements related to the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR).

• Group of Eight (Go8) Statement on the use of animals in research, opens in a new window
• Professor Levon Khachigian, opens in a new window