‘I should do what?’ Addressing research misconduct through values alignment
Evidence suggests that the incidence of research misconduct is not in decline despite efforts to improve awareness, education and governance mechanisms. Two responses to this problem are favoured: first, the promotion of an agent-centred ethics approach to enhance researchers’ personal responsibilit...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Research Ethics Review |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/17470161231224481 |
| _version_ | 1797209704634515456 |
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| author | Kate Chatfield Emma Law |
| author_facet | Kate Chatfield Emma Law |
| author_sort | Kate Chatfield |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Evidence suggests that the incidence of research misconduct is not in decline despite efforts to improve awareness, education and governance mechanisms. Two responses to this problem are favoured: first, the promotion of an agent-centred ethics approach to enhance researchers’ personal responsibility and accountability, and second, a change in research culture to relieve perceived pressures to engage in misconduct. This article discusses the challenges for both responses and explains how normative coherence through values alignment might assist. We argue that research integrity and research ethics convey mixed messages, which are likely to contribute to a form of normative confusion. For the successful adoption of an agent-centred approach, normative coherence is needed between the two. To facilitate normative coherence, we propose that research ethics and research integrity be underpinned by a shared set of moral values that can be enacted via codes and guidelines and imbue research environments. Furthermore, to facilitate culture change, the same normative coherence is necessary at all levels of an institution. Only via values alignment between institutional aims, management, institutional practices and researchers can an ethical culture become truly embedded in research institutions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:58:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f3992d3a44d45cb907bb4b9a40d9bd9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1747-0161 2047-6094 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:58:56Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Research Ethics Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f3992d3a44d45cb907bb4b9a40d9bd92024-04-14T02:03:56ZengSAGE PublishingResearch Ethics Review1747-01612047-60942024-04-012010.1177/17470161231224481‘I should do what?’ Addressing research misconduct through values alignmentKate ChatfieldEmma LawEvidence suggests that the incidence of research misconduct is not in decline despite efforts to improve awareness, education and governance mechanisms. Two responses to this problem are favoured: first, the promotion of an agent-centred ethics approach to enhance researchers’ personal responsibility and accountability, and second, a change in research culture to relieve perceived pressures to engage in misconduct. This article discusses the challenges for both responses and explains how normative coherence through values alignment might assist. We argue that research integrity and research ethics convey mixed messages, which are likely to contribute to a form of normative confusion. For the successful adoption of an agent-centred approach, normative coherence is needed between the two. To facilitate normative coherence, we propose that research ethics and research integrity be underpinned by a shared set of moral values that can be enacted via codes and guidelines and imbue research environments. Furthermore, to facilitate culture change, the same normative coherence is necessary at all levels of an institution. Only via values alignment between institutional aims, management, institutional practices and researchers can an ethical culture become truly embedded in research institutions.https://doi.org/10.1177/17470161231224481 |
| spellingShingle | Kate Chatfield Emma Law ‘I should do what?’ Addressing research misconduct through values alignment Research Ethics Review |
| title | ‘I should do what?’ Addressing research misconduct through values alignment |
| title_full | ‘I should do what?’ Addressing research misconduct through values alignment |
| title_fullStr | ‘I should do what?’ Addressing research misconduct through values alignment |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘I should do what?’ Addressing research misconduct through values alignment |
| title_short | ‘I should do what?’ Addressing research misconduct through values alignment |
| title_sort | i should do what addressing research misconduct through values alignment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/17470161231224481 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT katechatfield ishoulddowhataddressingresearchmisconductthroughvaluesalignment AT emmalaw ishoulddowhataddressingresearchmisconductthroughvaluesalignment |