Research Integrity and Ethics Support
Research Integrity and Ethics Training
Research ethics and integrity are the foundation of excellent research, ensuring transparency, credibility, and responsible conduct. To support researchers at all stages of their careers and across all disciplines, we have developed online training focused on upholding the highest standards of research integrity and ethics.
This self-paced course is hosted on Minerva and is available for unlimited access, allowing you to learn at your own pace.
By completing this course, you will:
✅ Explore the core values of research integrity and how they apply to your work
✅ Recognise your responsibilities in upholding the highest standards of ethics and integrity
✅ Understand what constitutes research misconduct and how to raise concerns if standards fall short
✅ Identify actions to enhance good research practice in your field
✅ Locate key University of Leeds policies and guidelines on research ethics
Key resources
UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO)
Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) workshops
Content Notes Online Course
Do you need research ethics approval?
All researchers have a responsibility to consider the ethics and integrity of their work. If your research involves any of the following topics, formal ethical review is likely to be required, and you must not begin the project until approval has been granted. Please complete the research ethics course on Minerva before submitting your ethics application to ensure the greatest chance of success and a smooth process.
Human participants
All research involving living human participants is subject to ethical review and approval.
Including interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, records relating to humans, use of online datasets or other secondary data, observations, etc.
Handling personal data
Personal data is about living people which can be identified from that data. It includes obvious identifying information, such as name or address, as well as pseudonymised data which has identifiers removed but can be re-identified either through the use of a key or by the addition of other available information.
Under the principles outlined within the Data Protection Act, any research which involves personal data about identifiable individuals requires ethical approval.
Research involving animals
Any research using animals must comply with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and ethical approval is required. Applications are reviewed separately by the University’s Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body.
Use of human tissue
The Human Tissue Act 2004 regulates the removal, storage and use of human tissue, from both the living and deceased, for ‘Scheduled Purposes’, including research. If you plan to carry out any research with human samples your work must have ethical approval before you start.
Data collection using online resources
Even if no identifiable data is collected, researchers must ensure informed consent, prevent unauthorised participation (e.g., safeguarding children), and comply with data protection laws.
Careful consideration and ethical approval is needed for use of social media and/or data from internet sources that could be regarded as private.
Potential adverse environmental impact
If your project may harm ecosystems, societies, or rare environments, its impact must be weighed against its long-term benefits, which requires ethics approval. Environmental risks include pollution, resource damage, ecosystem disruption, aesthetic harm, and impacts on future research or public concern.
Risk to members of the research team
Research that poses risks to members of the research team, such as lone working, travel to hazardous areas, or exposure to emotionally distressing content, may require ethical approval. Advice should be sought from your local Faculty Research Ethics Committee (FREC).
Research involving reputational risks, sensitive topics, or international contexts
Research in these areas may require ethics approval and should be carefully considered due to potential reputational risks and varying legislative or cultural standards. International research typically requires review by a University of Leeds ethics committee and must comply with both UK and host country ethical and legal requirements, with Trusted Research guidance used to assess risks.
What is research misconduct?
Awareness of research misconduct and understanding how to report it are crucial for maintaining the integrity of research, ensuring accountability, and fostering a culture of transparency and ethical responsibility within the research community.
The Concordat to support research integrity defines misconduct as 'behaviour or actions that fall short of the standards of ethics, research and scholarship required to ensure that the integrity of research is upheld.' Forms of misconduct include fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, failure to meet legal and ethical obligations, misrepresentation of data or authorship, and improper handling of misconduct allegations. Honest errors or differences in methodology do not constitute misconduct.
Researchers, and those supporting research, at Leeds are expected to act in good faith when involved in allegations of research misconduct, whether making allegations or participating in investigations. For more information on how to raise concerns and the research misconduct reporting process, please visit the RIS website.
Further resources
Research ethics at Leeds website, for advice and guidance about the ethics approval process and Faculty Research Ethics Committee (FREC) contacts.
Explore the Open Research Hub to learn how Open Research enhances transparency, rigour, honesty, and accountability throughout the entire research process.
Safeguarding in Research training: This course helps researchers understand how to promote welfare and protect people involved in research, including staff, students, collaborators, participants, and communities. It covers key considerations and provides guidance on identifying and mitigating risks.
Inclusive Research online training: This free course is aimed at anyone with an interest in health research, inclusivity and the research lifecycle. To access the course you will need to register for NIHR Learn, and anyone employed by the NIHR, NHS or a UK university or other publicly funded organisation conducting and supporting clinical research can do so.
UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR): A group of government departments and research funders working in international development. Their vision is to accelerate global development through the power of research and knowledge. To achieve this, they have generated useful resource hubs for Equitable partnerships, Research capacity strengthening and Safeguarding.