Responsible Conduct of Research
Conflict of Interest Policy
Research Misconduct
Private and public funding of research and scholarship has brought increased scrutiny and greater demands for accountability from the university community. It is generally accepted that research must be conducted morally and in accordance with certain federal mandates initiated by the Office of Research Integrity. In order to comply with these standards, WKU has the responsibility and obligation to train members of its research community in the areas relevant to their activities and to certify compliance with research policies.
The Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Program at Western Kentucky University is part of the educational and outreach activities of the Office of Sponsored Programs. The program is designed increase the knowledge of and coordinates the practice of responsible and ethical research to Western Kentucky University researchers.
The RCR program at WKU is divided into 9 categories. Complete review of this curriculum is a minimum requirement for WKU researchers that conduct both funded and unfunded research. These 9 elements outlined by Public Health Services form a basic foundation and should be used to encourage consistency in coverage of important ethical issues through undergraduate and graduate programs and through faculty and staff development programs. It is expect that each educational unit within the University will adapt these basic materials to their specific needs.
The following list encompasses elements that have been outlined as core instructional areas by the Public Health Services and WKU:
- Data acquisition & management, sharing and ownership
- Conflict of interest and commitment
- Human subjects
- Animal welfare
- Research misconduct
- Publication practices and responsible authorship
- Mentor/trainee responsibilities
- Peer review
- Collaborative science
- Intellectual Property
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