September 2023 – RIPE – RESEARCH INTEGRITY PRACTICE IN EUROPE

Unpacking the Ukrainian paradox

In Ukraine, developing good research culture aligns with work against corruption, disrupted but not stopped by Russia’s war.

Ülle Must and Valentyna Andrushchenko

This article provides an overview of the application of ethical principles in Ukrainian higher education and research institutions. This article is based on the results of the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) survey, carried out between June and November 2019. During the study, two contradictory statements caught our attention: “Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the world” and “Ukraine is one of the leading countries protesting against corruption”. Solving this paradox was one of our goals.

Accelerating responsible conduct of research in a multidisciplinary research community

How to foster good research culture in a large research organisation? A research ethics working group describes their principles and recommendations.

Mervi Heikkinen, Anne Keränen, Satu Pitkäaho, Minna Ruddock, Sirpa Aalto, Aki Manninen, Hely Häggman, Minna Soini-Kivari, Antero Metso, Heidi Huttunen, Aija Ryyppö, Pertti Tikkanen, and Riitta Keiski

Based on the experiences in the development and running of a research ethics working group at the University of Oulu, we discuss advances and current challenges in multidisciplinary collaboration and bring forward the concept of ethical response-ability as the key capability in scientific knowledge production.

Agents of Change in Research Integrity

The important work of research integrity promoters requires an acknowledged formal position and the co-effort of collaborative networks.

Loreta Tauginienė and Inga Gaižauskaitė

To understand how everyone perceives their role at work it is paramount to discuss the meaningfulness of work. Apparently, any work is meaningful in a sense we tailor it. Similarly, research integrity promoters, acting at national level and, therefore, being in a unique position, carry out their role in a sensitive and responsible way that aligns with what research integrity is about.

The Lithuanian Responsible Research Barometer 2022 signals the need for systemic changes

In Lithuania, national guidelines are well-known and knowledge of ethics is considered important, but research malpractice is rarely reported or resolved.

Julija Umbrasaitė and Eglė Ozolinčiūtė

In 2022, the Office of the Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures (Office) in Lithuania conducted the second Responsible Research Barometer survey. It was adapted from the questionnaire developed by the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK. This survey reviews the current ethical practice of research conduct and publication in Lithuanian universities, colleges of higher education, and research institutes (Research and Higher Education Institutions, i.e. RHEIs). The survey, consisting of 23 questions, was filled in by doctoral students and researchers (lecturers, scientists and other researchers working in RHEIs) (N=310). To understand the current trends in the RHEIs, the results were compared with the results of the earlier study “Responsible Research Barometer 2020” (Ozolinčiūtė et al. 2020).

Welcome from the Editorial Board

Research Integrity Practice in Europe (RIPE) is a new open access bulletin dedicated to current practice-oriented topics, debates, and news in the field of research integrity. It is published by the European Network of Research Integrity Offices ENRIO, and this introductory article accompanies its launch in September 2023.

Ancient Human Remains and Research Ethics: Fostering Research Culture and Practice

New methodologies open up new avenues for research in ancient human remains. How to address the complex ethical questions in this field?

Nils Anfinset, Sean D. Denham and Lene Os Johannessen

Good research culture and practice are based on a core set of scientific and ethical norms and values within the research community. We define research ethics in a broad sense, covering all four principles in The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (2017): reliability, honesty, respect and accountability. This article focuses on respect and accountability. More generally, we discuss the fostering of a culture of sound research practice that is built on ethical guidelines derived from the particularities of a specific research field, in this case the ancient human remains research.

A Portrait of a Whistleblower in Europe

Whistleblowers have various motivations and roles. Mostly they are researchers who suffer from the consequences of research integrity violations, but this is not always the case.

Sanna-Kaisa Spoof

Since 2017, the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity has recommended that those involved in research misconduct investigations must be protected. As the code states,

Procedures are conducted confidentially to protect those involved in the investigation, and
Institutions protect the rights of ‘whistleblowers’ during investigations and ensure that their career prospects are not endangered.