Research Integrity: Collaborative ResearchMichelle Stickler, DEd

Office for Research Protections

814-865-1175

mmc115@psu.edu

www.research.psu.edu

Reasons to Collaborate

Complexity of research Funding opportunities Ease of communications

Potential Challenges

Different personalities / styles Different research practices Compliance considerations Intellectual property

Keys to Successful Collaborationfrom Macrina, F. Scientific Integrity: An Introductory Text with Cases. Second Edition. American Society for Microbiology Press. 2000.

COMMUNICATION! Discuss:ResponsibilitiesPublication and authorshipData and materials Intellectual property

Keys to Successful Collaborationfrom Macrina, F. Scientific Integrity: An Introductory Text with Cases. Second Edition. American Society for Microbiology Press. 2000.

COMMUNICATION! Discuss:ResponsibilitiesPublication and authorshipData and materials Intellectual property

Responsible Authorship

What to publish Proper citation Authorship credit and responsibility

What to Publish

New and substantial findings or analysisAvoid salami publication (LPU/MPU)Avoid duplicate submission & publication

Objective and unbiasedAvoid misleading claimsClearly and openly describe methodsUse statistics appropriately and accuratelyAcknowledge limitations

Scenario

A researcher reports on his work in a controlled circulation, or “throwaway”, newsletter produced and distributed free by a professional society in the field. He writes a similar report and submits it to a peer-reviewed journal. The report in the newsletter is already being cited in the peer-reviewed literature. The editor of the journal rejects the paper on the grounds that the material has already been published, citing rules and arguments regarding duplicate publication. The author states that the earlier report did not constitute publication, because the throwaway newsletter was not peer-reviewed, not generally available through libraries, and not indexed and abstracted by secondary services.

From Ethics and Policy in Scientific Publication (1990), Council of Biology Editors, Inc., Bethesda, MD, p. 70.

Discussion Questions

What constitutes prior publication? How do you define “throwaway”

publication in your discipline? Does the author have a valid argument? Is duplicate publication ever acceptable?

Proper Citation

Adequately and accurately cite literature Include adequate references to document

ideasVerify that referenced works are consistent

with the ideas and information credited to them

Cite original sourcesCheck the accuracy of citations

Discussion Question

Should you acknowledge (and cite) prior “research” published in a “throwaway” publication or white paper?

Keys to Successful Collaborationfrom Macrina, F. Scientific Integrity: An Introductory Text with Cases. Second Edition. American Society for Microbiology Press. 2000.

COMMUNICATION! Discuss:ResponsibilitiesPublication and authorshipData and materials Intellectual property

Responsible Data Management

Data Selection: experimental design, protocol submission, approval by institutional committee(s)

Data Collection: ensuring quality & avoiding bias, adequate recordkeeping

Analysis & Selection: statistical analyses, criteria for including & excluding data

Data Ownership: responsibility and rights for collection, use, and sharing

Data Retention: duration, security, and accessibility Sharing of Data: what to share, when, and with whom

Data Collection

How will data be recorded; what conventions?

Are all personnel trained to use instruments?

Have QA measures been implemented? Has QC process been identified?

Quality Assurance

Detailed list of data items to be collected Step-by step instructions for administering

instruments, making adjustments to, and calibrating instruments

Process for training all research personnel Mechanism for documenting changes in

procedures

Quality Control

Errors requiring prompt action:Errors in individual data itemsSystematic errorsViolation of protocolProblems with staff or site performanceResearch misconduct

Improper Data Collection: Consequences Inability to answer research questions

accurately Inability to repeat or validate the study Distorted findings = wasted resources Misleading to other scholars Compromise decisions for public policy Causing harm to human participants

Scenario

Discuss the “Lazy Students” case

Data Handling

Be sure to consider:Who has access to which dataData handling proceduresPlan for long-term storage & disposal

Scenario

Discuss the “Data Gone Astray” case

Data Analysis

Come to agreement on: Missing data points Outliers Presenting derived vs. raw data Reporting significant and insignificant results

Train data raters to reduce inconsistencies

Keys to Successful Collaborationfrom Macrina, F. Scientific Integrity: An Introductory Text with Cases. Second Edition. American Society for Microbiology Press. 2000.

COMMUNICATION! Discuss:ResponsibilitiesPublication and authorshipData and materials Intellectual property

Data Sharing

Factors influencing the decision to share: Proprietary, economic, or security concerns Providing all materials needed Technical obstacles Confidentiality Concerns about qualifications of data requesters Costs associated with sharing

Data Sharing

Recommendations: Pre-publication – open data policy with appropriate

caution Willingness to share data post-publication with other

researchers within reason

Communication = Successful Research = Quality Research!