Research ethics resources Kit

At a time of profound change in the economic, political and also social spheres, science and technology systems have been subject to searching scrutiny. In the course of this process, the need to apply ethics in research-related activities has become apparent. These activities encompass the integral production of knowledge and its management, affecting both those who direct and carry out research and those who are involved in evaluating the results and transferring the knowledge. The legislative framework and the publication of basic ethical rules for scientific praxis by most universities and research centres reveal a concern to ensure ethics in research.

So now is a good time to develop research ethics-related principles and instruments and ensure their governance and quality. On one hand, scientific research must be transparent and open to public scrutiny; it must render account of its activities, both for the public funding it receives and to honour its responsibility toward society. At the same time, the public must be able to contribute scientific policies so that research continues to be fully coherent and participative. On the other hand, when considering research quality, the existence of good practices, which include recognition of human rights and respect for living beings in general, is a sign of excellence in a research project's activities.

The UOC's research areas do not include experiments with animals but it does include empirical research related with the information and knowledge society. Therefore, complementing current legislation and regulations, the University considers it necessary to equip itself with instruments that allow it to assure the quality of the research it performs and avoid integrity issues in the behaviour of its research staff.

These instruments have been chosen and developed within the UOC's Research Ethics Board, whose members are representatives from the faculties, the Knowledge Transfer and Research Support Office, the Library, the Legal Office, the Síndic de Greuges and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, formed in December 2012. Approved by the University's Governing Council, the Research Committee, the faculties, centres and areas undertake to disseminate them and apply them appropriately.

ETHICAL ISSUES

• The UOC's Code of Good Practice in Research and Innovation (CBPRI) [PDF] 
  Ethics Board, December 2014
  A series of recommendations and undertakings on research and innovation-related activities to ensure upright behaviour by research staff and the quality of the knowledge produced. It compiles the ethical principles that govern research and innovation practices and a series of guidelines for good practices in research and innovation that include mechanisms for mentoring trainee research staff, co-participation in research projects with industry, obtainment and management of personal data, and research review, publication and dissemination practices.
• The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya's Code of Ethics [PDF] 
  Governing Council, July 2017
  A compilation of rules and moral principles that guide the behaviour of the University's people and communities.
• The European code of Conduct for Research Integrity [PDF]
  European Science Foundation / ALLEA (All European Academies), March 2011
  The code provides guidelines for appropriate behaviour and the practical principles that should govern research in medicine, social and natural sciences, and humanities in Europe. This code offers a reference framework for all researchers, establishing a list of principles to be taken into account when drawing up national guidelines to complement current codes of ethics and comply with national and European legislative frameworks.
  
  The code has been published by the European Science Foundation, a platform composed of 78 organizations that work to promote European cooperation in research, and ALLEA (All European Academies), the European Federation of National Academies of Science and Humanities, that draws together 53 academies in 40 countries and fosters information and experience exchange between them to contribute to excellence and the development of ethical principles in research.
   
• Procedure for addressing irregular behaviour in research activity [PDF] 
  Ethics Board, November 2012
  It defines the procedures for settling scientific conflicts or irregular situations involving scientific malpractice, including: fabrication or misrepresentation of research data or results; plagiarism, non-citation or misappropriation of other people's ideas, work or data; non-disclosure of conflicts of interest or cases where a conflict of interest could reasonably be expected to arise. Under no circumstances will errors or misunderstandings arising from honest practice be considered ethical malpractice.
• Legislation and resources [PDF]
  Ethics Board, October 2015
  References of the sources of information used in drafting the Code of Good Practice, the Research Protocol and the Conflict Management Procedure, and related regulations and documents.
• ​Organizational structure involved in research ethics [PDF]
  Ethics Board, October 2015
  A description of the different people and organizations that ensure compliance with current legislation and regulations on ethical principles in research and innovation and provide deontological support to research staff.

PROTOCOL AND FORMS

• Research protocol form. Questionnaire for the assessment by the UOC's Ethics Board. (Ethics Board, September 2018). You will find more detailed information and access to the protocol form in the Services for research catalogue, within the Intrauoc of the virtual campus.

INTELLECTUAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

• Resources for proposals and projectes within the framework of Horizon 2020
  • Ethics Appraisal Procedure (H2020 online manual). European Commission.
  • Guidance - How to complete your ethics self-assessment (2015). European Commission.
  • Grant Preparation / Ethics review: Ethics Screening & Assessment (H2020 online manual). European Commission.
  • Annotated Model Grant Agreement H2020 (Art. 34 - Ethics). Horizon 2020. Research and Innovation. European Commission (2015). [PDF]