NCA: Research Integrity statement

This document is drawn from the Concordat to support research integrity, published by:

    Research Councils UK
    The Wellcome Trust
    The National Institute for Health Research
    Universities UK
    The Higher Education Funding Council for England

While it is not bound by other obligations or principles of the signatories to the Concordat, the NCA espouses the principles of this document, and all students engaging in research should likewise observe these principles in their work.

All NCA students should carry out research according to the guidelines in this document.

Individual responsibility
The primary responsibility for ensuring that individual researchers act according to these principles in all aspects of their research work, including peer review, lies with the individual. Therefore, researchers will understand the expected standards of research conduct relevant to their research project; and maintain the highest standards in their work at all times.

Commitment 1: Rigour and integrity

NCA and its students are committed to maintaining the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research. The core elements of rigour and integrity are:

  • Honesty in all aspects of research, including in the presentation of research goals, intentions and findings; in reporting on research methods and procedures; in gathering data; in using and acknowledging the work of other researchers; and in conveying valid interpretations and making justifiable claims based on research findings.
  • Rigour, in line with prevailing disciplinary norms and standards: in performing research and using appropriate methods; in adhering to an agreed protocol where appropriate; in drawing interpretations and conclusions from the research; and in communicating the results.
  • Transparency and open communication in declaring conflicts of interest; in the reporting of research data collection methods; in the analysis and interpretation of data; in making research findings widely available, which includes sharing negative results as appropriate; and in presenting the work to other researchers and to the general public.
  • Care and respect for all participants in and subjects of research, including humans, animals, the environment and cultural objects, including awareness of current debates regarding personhood, identity and protected characteristics. Those engaged with research must also show care and respect for the stewardship of research and scholarship for future generations.

Commitment 2: Governance frameworks

NCA and its students are committed to ensuring that research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards.

In addition to the core principles that underpin integrity, research is governed by a range of ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards. These reduce the potential for harm, in particular to human participants, the environment, and animals involved in research. They identify societal concerns that researchers should acknowledge and determine the minimum standards to which all research must conform. Failure to comply with such frameworks may result in sanctions; where legal obligations are concerned, this could mean a criminal offence has been committed. Moreover, these frameworks are important in maintaining and enhancing public trust in research.

The frameworks that regulate research practice will change over time. There will, in many cases, be an international dimension. Therefore, it is not helpful to provide a single, definitive outline of the frameworks, standards and obligations to which research must conform. However, all parties have a responsibility to ensure they have up-to-date knowledge of those that apply to their work.

Researchers will:

  • ensure that all research is subject to active and appropriate consideration of ethical issues
  • comply with ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards as required by statutory and regulatory authorities, and by employers, funders and other relevant stakeholders
  • All NCA students should obtain all necessary local ethics permissions applicable to their research, and should not proceed without these permissions; responsibility for ascertaining necessary permissions rests with the student.

Commitment 3: The research environment

NCA and its students are committed to supporting a research environment that is underpinned by a culture of integrity and based on good governance, best practice and support for the development of researchers.

A research environment that helps to develop good research practice and embeds a culture of research integrity should, as a minimum, include:

  • clear policies, practices and procedures to support researchers
  • suitable learning, training and mentoring opportunities to support the development of researchers
  • robust management systems to ensure that policies relating to research, research integrity and researcher behaviour are implemented
  • awareness among researchers of the standards and behaviours that are expected of them
  • systems within the research environment that identify potential concerns at an early stage and mechanisms for providing support to researchers in need of assistance.

Commitment 4: Misconduct

NCA and its students are committed to using transparent, robust and fair processes to deal with allegations of research misconduct, should they arise.

Research misconduct is characterised 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. It is a problem because it can cause harm (for example to patients, the public and the environment), damages the credibility of research, undermines the research record, and wastes resources.

Researchers will:

  • act in good faith with regard to allegations of research misconduct, whether in making allegations or in being required to participate in an investigation
  • handle potential instances of research misconduct in an appropriate manner; this includes reporting misconduct to employers, funders and professional, statutory and regulatory bodies as circumstances require.

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