Research Integrity and Ethics Support

Research Integrity and Ethics Training

Research integrity means conducting research in a way which allows others to have trust and confidence in the methods used and the findings of research. It refers to the behaviours and values of researchers that result in high quality, ethical and rigorous research.

To support you in conducting research with the highest standards of integrity, we have developed an online course that introduces you to the essential standards, procedures, and ethical considerations for research at the University of Leeds.

Hosted on Minerva, the course is divided into two sections:

Research Integrity:This section guides you through planning, conducting, and disseminating research in line with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, which outlines five core commitments for good research practice. It offers practical advice and links to further resources to help you apply these principles effectively.
Research Ethics: Covering key ethical principles and your responsibilities as a researcher, this section helps you evaluate the ethical implications of your work. It also provides insights into University policies, the ethical review process, and tips for writing strong ethics applications.

Click here to register and gain access to these online courses.

UKRIO Research Integrity online training

The University of Leeds is a subscriber to the UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO) and has joined a national pilot of their new online training in research integrity. Registration for this course is now closed, however if you did launch the materials before the 27th June 2024, you have one year of free access through Minerva.

For more information about research integrity and ethics at the University of Leeds, please visit the Secretariat ethics pages and Research and Innovation services website.

Key resources

Research Integrity and Ethics Training

Training in research integrity and research ethics is highly recommended for all staff, PGRs and students involved in, or supporting, research at Leeds. The resources are self-paced and have been designed for you to revisit as and when you need to. Click the link to enrol via the training catalogue, and once signed up, we will give you access to the courses via Minerva.

UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO)

The University of Leeds is a subscriber to the UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO), a registered charity that provides independent and expert support on good research practice. UKRIO supports the research community through a range of resources, events and an expert advisory service for all matters relating to research integrity and good research practice.

Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) workshop

Learn to align research with societal values, engage diverse stakeholders, fulfil funding body requirements and integrate RRI principles into your research for ethical and sustainable outcomes.
Places for our new "What does Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) mean to me?" training will open shortly.

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

Safeguarding in Research training: Safeguarding is the action taken to promote the welfare of people and protect them from harm. When dealing with research projects this may include staff, students and collaborators, external partners, participants in research as well as their families/households, and communities involved in, or affected by, the research. We have developed this safeguarding course for researchers to take you through the main considerations, and help you identify and mitigate, any risks.

Open Research embodies ideas of best research practice by increasing the transparency, rigour, honesty and accountability of the research process itself. It is about extending the principles of openness to the whole research cycle, from project design through to dissemination of outcomes. Our institutional commitment to open research is outlined in the UoL Open Research Statement.

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.