Guidance for Researchers
UWE Code of Good Conduct in Research
The University is committed to promoting high standards in the conduct of research. The Code is aimed at developing a quality research culture and promoting procedures in best research practice, and is linked to other policies, regulations and guidelines that have been established in the University, including the University's Ethics Policy and procedures for investigaing allegations of research misconduct.
The Code outlines the duties of research project managers in maintaining standards of academic practice and integrity; accountability; conduct and publication of research; duty of care to all associated with the research; financial management and awareness of legal, regulatory and ethical requirements of the University and other relevant bodies.
It also makes clear that the responsibilities of the University's Senior Management Team, Executive Deans and Associate Deans (Research) to ensure an appropriate research climate; make adequate provision in training and development for all researchers; and provide training for supervisors in supervisory skills through a structured framework of staff development for research staff.
Department of Health Framework and Related UWE Procedures
Researchers (both staff and students) involved in health and social care research must comply with the requirements of The Research Governance Framework of the Department of Health, and in accordance with the procedures of the National Research Ethics Service. An Implementation Plan for Social Care has also been published by the Department of Health to recognise that implementation of the Framework in Social Care requires separate consideration and a committee, the Social Care Research Ethics Committee has now been established to work alongside the local research ethics committees to facilitate ethical research for adult social care practice.
Approval of Externally Funded Research Bids and Contracts
PASS is UWE's Project Approval Support System, which replaced CRISP with effect from 1 August 2008. The system is similar to CRISP in that proposals for external funding will need to be approved internally before submission, but it has been designed to have less of a policing role, and to be more empowering to the academic.
UWE's Project Approval Support System (PASS)
Ethics Approval
All research involving human participants, data and tissue conducted by academic staff and students is subject to ethical review by the University's Research Ethics Committee or one of its five Faculty Research Ethics Committees.
Guidance on when it is required and procedure for gaining Research Ethics Approval
Consent
Research involving human subjects should be based as far as practicable on the freely given informed consent of subjects.
Guidance on consent to take part in research
Data Protection
The University has approved guidelines for staff and students engaged in research to ensure that data-based research is undertaken in a way which is both legal and ethical.
Research data protection and data security: Guidelines for Staff and Students
Health and Safety
The safety of social researchers guidance document can be found on UWE's health and safety webpage.
Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Checks
Staff undertaking research work which involves one-to-one or other unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults will usually require a CRB check. Students undertaking research as part of their programme of study/research students whose work involves one-to-one or other unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults will also usually need to be CRB checked. Further information.
Research Misconduct
Research misconduct relates to fabrication, falsification, plagiarism or deception in proposing, carrying out or reporting results of research and deliberate, dangerous or negligent deviation from accepted practice in carrying out research. It includes failure to follow established protocols if this failure results in unacceptable risk or harm to humans, other vertebrates or the environment and facilitating of misconduct in research by collusion in, or concealment of, such actions by others.
- UWE Procedures for Investigation of Research Misconduct
- UWE Whistle Blowing Policy
- UWE Regulatory Framework
Financial Issues
You must be open and honest in all financial and commercial matters relating to your research and its funding. In particular you must:
- Declare to your line manager or supervisor, the Research Ethics Committees and RBI, prior to the research being approved, all financial interests and sums of money which you know, or estimate, will be paid for the research undertaken, and who is supplying this.
- Give participants information on how and by whom the research is funded, including any benefits which will accrue to researchers and/or their departments, or to the funders.
- Not offer payments to research participants at a level which could induce research participants to take risks that they would otherwise not take, or to volunteer more frequently than is advisable or against their better interests or judgement.
Scientific Review
A principal means of ensuring quality of research is through the process of peer review and publication. Applications for funding of research generally include a system of peer review when the scope, research design and intended outputs of a project proposal are independently assessed. Similarly student projects, whether for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, are commonly reviewed and/or assessed before the project begins.
Unless prevented through contracts entered into by the University, researchers are usually expected to disseminate their findings and subject them to external or independent scrutiny. For some projects this may also entail a commitment to feedback findings to participants of the study. For students, your Student Handbook and the Regulatory Framework (incorporating Academic Regulations and Procedures) will provide details of the assessment requirements.
Research Training
Staff - Research staff are expected to uphold their professional responsibilities including keeping up to date with developments in their field. In addition to attending training provided by the Faculty, professional bodies and associations etc. RBI provides generic skills training across a range of topics (see below).
Students - Student research is carried out as part of an accredited award such as an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. The requirements of the degree and more specific requirements for the research component will be available in your course handbook and Academic Regulations. Student research is always supervised and students have a responsibility to establish and maintain regular contact with their supervisor. Your supervisor is there to advise and support your research.
