Misconduct in Research

The University, the State, suppliers of grant accounts, clients of consultation services, and the public all have the right to expect and demand unbiased and factual information from University professional researchers. In the long run, University personnel benefit individually and collectively from the maintenance of high ethical standards. Any intentional distortion of research data or intentional distortions of information or conclusions derived from research data constitutes misconduct in research and is prohibited by University policy.

An atmosphere of intellectual honesty enhances the research process and need not inhibit productivity and creativity. Establishing and maintaining such an atmosphere is a responsibility that must be accepted by all University personnel.

Fortunately research misconduct occurs very rarely. However, the potentially severe consequences to the academic reputation and credibility of the University make it the responsibility of all to report promptly and confidentially indications of research misconduct.

Suspicion of research misconduct and awareness of an inquiry into suspected research misconduct must be limited to only those with a genuine need to know. If the suspicion of research misconduct proves unfounded, it is the responsibility of all privy to it to obliterate the suspicion from memory.

Each dean, chair, division head, and principal investigator has a special responsibility for creating and strengthening an atmosphere in which misconduct in research is abhorrent. This includes indoctrinating in faculty, staff, and students the highest standards of professional and intellectual ethics.

The "Health Research Extension Act of 1985" requires that applicants for Public Health Service (PHS) research funds file assurances that

1. they have developed their own policies and procedures for dealing with possible misconduct in research and
2. they will inform PHS of the initiation of a formal misconduct investigation. As a means of implementing the 1985 law, PHS has published a final rule titled "Responsibility of PHS Awardee and Applicant Institutions for Dealing with and Reporting Possible Misconduct in Science" (Federal Register, Vol. 54, No. 151, pp. 32449-32451, August 8, 1989). The National Science Foundation (NSF) published similar proposed regulations titled "Misconduct in Science and Engineering Research" (Federal Register, Vol. 52, No. 27, pp. 4158-4161, February 10, 1987). It is the policy of the University of Delaware to abide by both of these regulations. It is the policy of the University of Delaware to extend these PHS and NSF requirements to all research.

The University has the ethical responsibility to prevent misconduct in research and the legal responsibility to inquire into all allegations of research misconduct and to report and investigate all instances where a reasonable presumption of misconduct is established by inquiry. The University administration can discharge these responsibilities only with the cooperation of the faculty, staff, and students in following the procedures outlined below. It is the duty of all such personnel to report promptly and confidentially any appearances of research misconduct. In rare cases where one level in this reporting chain appears to be stalling or covering up the allegation of misconduct, it may be necessary to proceed to a higher level. It is prudent for those who are aware of an alleged case of research misconduct to take such a step, since any subsequent inquiry or investigation of a significant misconduct case is likely to uncover those who knew about the misconduct and failed in their duty to report it. This policy does not conflict with the "Student Code of Conduct" in the Student Guide to Policies.

The full policy on Misconduct in Research, which includes examples of misconduct in research, federal requirements, examples of activities potentially affected by misconduct in research, consequences of misconduct in research, and procedures, is contained in the University Policy and Procedures Manual.