What does the principle of recognition in the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research mean?

This Code has been jointly developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Australian Research Council (ARC) and Universities Australia, and has broad relevance across all research disciplines.

The Code also has a companion Guide that provides a framework on how to deal with departures from best practice.

All researchers associated with the University must conduct their research in a manner consistent with the principles & responsibilities outlined in the Code and conduct their research in compliance with other legal or regulatory requirements and any University procedures or guidelines relevant to their field of research.

Compliance with the principles outlined in the Code is a requirement for the receipt of funding from the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council. For funding received from the United States Public Health Services (PHS) compliance with the PHS Policies on Research Misconduct 42CFR Part 93 is also required.

This Code does not incorporate all the laws, regulations, guidelines and other codes of practice that apply to the conduct of research within Australia. For a more comprehensive list, visit the Legal and Risk Compliance website.

The 2018 Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (the 2018 Code) articulates the broad principles that characterise an honest, ethical and conscientious research culture. The 2018 Code sets out the following principles as the hallmarks of responsible research conduct:

• Honesty in development, undertaking and reporting of research
• Rigour in development, undertaking and reporting of research
• Transparency in declaring interests and reporting research methodology, data and findings
• Fairness in the treatment of others
• Respect for research participants, the wider community, animals and the environment
• Recognition of the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be engaged in research that affects or is of particular significance to them
• Accountability for the development, undertaking and reporting of research
• Promotion of responsible research practices

In addition to these broad principles, the 2018 Code sets out core responsibilities that researchers and institutions are expected to adopt when conducting research in Australia or under the auspices of Australian institutions. The University has adopted the 2018 Code in its Responsible Conduct of Research Policy.

The primary responsibility for ensuring the integrity of research lies with individual researchers and institutions. The University's Research Conduct and Integrity policies and procedures provide the primary reference for the responsible conduct of research at UQ.   

Research Integrity

Research Integrity promotes the responsible conduct of research at UQ by providing advice and education and training to staff and students involved in research. This is supported by a network of Research Integrity Advisors. Research Integrity also receives and manages the assessment of concerns regarding the conduct of research and potential breaches of university policies and the 2018 Code.

Additional resources

The ARC is committed to the highest standards of integrity in all aspects of research it supports. This includes ensuring that ARC-funded research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards; as well as the development and support of a research environment that is underpinned by a culture of integrity. To encourage responsible research practices, all Proposals and ARC-funded research Projects are either recommended or required to conform to the principles outlined in the following and their successor documents, as stipulated within the scheme-specific funding rules:

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The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018) 

In June 2018, the ARC, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Universities Australia (the co-authors) issued the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research 2018 (the Code) and the Guide to Managing and Investigating Potential Breaches of the Code (the Investigation Guide).

The Code articulates the broad principles that characterise an honest, ethical and conscientious research culture. It outlines the expectations for the conduct of research in Australia or research conducted under the auspices of Australian institutions. The new Investigation Guide will assist institutions to manage, investigate and resolve complaints about potential breaches of the Code.

The 2018 Code and Investigation Guide replace the 2007 version of the Code. NHMRC, ARC and Universities Australia expect institutions to meet the requirements of the 2018 Code and Investigation Guide by no later than 1 July 2019.

Supplementary Guides supporting implementation of the Code

The ARC, NHMRC and Universities Australia are developing a series of supplementary guides designed to support institutions and researchers to implement and comply with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (the Code).

The following guides have been released and can be downloaded from the  NHMRC’s website:

• Authorship 
• Management of Data and Information in Research 
• Peer Review 
• Disclosure of Interests and Management of Conflicts of Interest
• Supervision
• Collaborative Research

Further guides will be released over coming months on the subjects of research supervision, collaborative research, publication and dissemination of research, and the role of research integrity advisors.

Institutions are reminded that until these guides are released, institutions and researchers should continue to defer to relevant sections of the 2007 Code.

ARC Research Integrity Policy

The policy outlines requirements for institutions, and individuals engaged in ARC business, to report to the ARC research integrity matters, and the action the ARC may take in response to reported breaches of the Code. It also describes how the ARC can refer concerns or complaints to research institutions, who, in accordance with the Code, are responsible for managing and investigating potential breaches of the Code.

National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research

The National Principles of Intellectual Property (IP) Management for Publicly Funded Research (the National Principles) were developed by a working party of the Australian Government’s Coordinating Committee on Innovation.

The National Principles were developed to assist researchers, research managers and research institutions develop best practice in identifying, protecting and managing IP, thus ensuring appropriate commercial outcomes from publicly funded research.

The intention of the National Principles is simply to improve the commercial outcomes from publicly funded research where a commercial outcome is appropriate. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) publicly announced the adoption of these National Principles in April 2013.

ARC Open Access Policy

The ARC Open Access Policy took effect from 1 January 2013. The Policy applies to all Research Outputs arising from ARC Funded Research and their Metadata. This policy does not apply to pre-prints and comparable resources which are already publicly available, and research data and research data outputs. Research data arising from ARC Funded Research are addressed separately under the ARC’s data management requirements.

Any Research Outputs arising from an ARC supported research Project must be made openly accessible within a twelve (12) month period from the date of publication.

In cases where researchers may not be able to meet the requirements because of current legal or contractual obligations, Final Reports must provide reasons why Research Outputs derived from a Project, Award, or Fellowship have not been made openly accessible within the twelve (12) month period.

The National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007)—Updated 2018

Jointly developed by the ARC, the NHMRC and UA, the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research consists of a series of guidelines on ethical conduct in human research and is intended for use by:

• any researcher conducting research with human participants;
• any member of an ethical review body reviewing that research;
• those involved in research governance; and
• potential research participants.

Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities: Guidelines for researchers and stakeholders

Developed by NHMRC, Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities: Guidelines for researchers and stakeholders provides a set of principles to ensure research is safe, respectful, responsible, high quality, of benefit to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people and communities.
 

AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research (the AIATSIS Code)

The Guidelines for Ethical Research in Australian Indigenous Studies embody the best standards of ethical research and human rights. It is essential that Indigenous people are full participants in research projects that concern them, share an understanding of the aims and methods of the research, and share the results of this work. At every stage, research with and about Indigenous peoples must be founded on a process of meaningful engagement and reciprocity between the researcher and Indigenous people.

The Australia Council for the Arts, Indigenous Cultural Protocols for Producing Indigenous Australian Music, Writing, Visual Arts, Media Arts and Performing Arts (2007)

The ARC recognises that the Protocols may also have much broader application, and, as applicable, advises that any researchers accessing, using or reproducing music, literature, arts, images or ceremonies of Indigenous peoples, or Indigenous cultural materials conduct their research in accordance with these protocols.

The Australian Code For The Care And Use Of Animals For Scientific Purposes 8th edition ( 2013)

Endorsed by the NHMRC, the ARC, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and UA the purpose of the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes is to promote the ethical, humane and responsible care and use of animals used for scientific purposes. The ethical framework and governing principles set out in the Code provide guidance for investigators, teachers, institutions, animal ethics committees and all people involved in the care and use of animals for scientific purposes. The Code encompasses all aspects of the care and use of animals for scientific purposes where the aim is to acquire, develop or demonstrate knowledge or techniques in any area of science.

Other guidelines relating to the use of animals for scientific purposes, as promulgated by the NHMRC

NHMRC provides additional guidelines and information for Animal Ethics Committees and researchers, relating to particular fields of research or types of animals. These guidelines should be read in conjunction with the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th edition (2013). They are available on NHMRC’s website and include, but are not limited to:

National Principles of Child Safe Organisations (2018) 

The National Principles of Child Safe Organisations aim to provide a nationally consistent approach to creating organisational cultures that foster child safety and wellbeing.