Good Scientific Practice

Helga Nolte, Hamburg,Gerlinde Sponholz, Berlin

Estonian Research Council – September 17th/18th, 2015 – Tartu and Tallinn

Preventive measures in all university guidelines

• Educating young researches• Fostering awareness • Role model of experienced researchers• Responsible Mentoring• Organizational measures to foster GSP• Open and transparent systems of decision making

Estonian Research Council – September 17th/18th, 2015 – Tartu and Tallinn

N. Steneck (2009): Introduction to the responsible Conduct of Research. DIANE Publishing , Darby PA

Estonian Research Council – September 17th/18th, 2015 – Tartu and Tallinn

Fanelli D (2009) How Many Scientists Fabricate and Falsify Research? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Survey Data. PLos ONE 4(5): e5738. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005738

21 Studies included Fabrication, falsification or alteration of results admitted, 2 % ( 1 % - 4 %)directly observed, 14 % (9 % - 20 %)

Questionable research practicesadmitted, 10 % (5 % - 34 %)directly observed, 29 % (6 % -72 %)

Estonian Research Council – September 17th/18th, 2015 – Tartu and Tallinn

Experience with Misconduct

Estonian Research Council – September 17th/18th, 2015 – Tartu and Tallinn

Gommel et al (2015) Teaching Good Scientific Practice: Results from a Survey and Observations from Two Hundred Courses. JUNQ 5/2: 11-16

Curriculum for Teaching Good Scientific Practice

Estonian Research Council – September 17th/18th, 2015 – Tartu and Tallinn

October 2009: first German version

October 2011: English Version Curriculum “Good Scientific Practice” for Courses in Science and Medicine

October 2012:revision and extension

http://www.ombudsman-fuer-die-wissenschaft.de

GSP-Courses since 2009For students, doctoral and junior scientists/PhD-students

Estonian Research Council – September 17th/18th, 2015 – Tartu and Tallinn

workshop short workshop intro-lecture2009 2

12010 5 3

12011 16

32012 41

122013 48 4

122014 63 5

142015 (01-08) 25 2

Contents of GSP Workshops

Estonian Research Council – September 17th/18th, 2015 – Tartu and Tallinn

Process of Research

Good Scientific Practice - data managementScientific Misconduct - publication process

- authorship

Local, national - mentoring

international - cooperation

rules, codes - conflict of interest- (research with human

subjects and animals)

Dealing with conflicts; ombudssystem; potential consequences

GSP Teachers‘ Training

2013 3

20141

2015 planned 22016 planned 7

Different extent and intensityDifferent requests and target groups

Estonian Research Council – September 17th/18th, 2015 – Tartu and Tallinn

Teachers’ Training „Good Scientific Practice“

GoalsThe participants learn to develop and conduct workshops on good scientific practice. The participants will- acquire specific knowledge on good scientific practice- acquire specific knowledge on questionable practice and on

scientific misconduct, and learn how to deal adequately with both

- develop their teaching concepts- train their teaching skills- reflect their role as researchers, supervisors and mentors

Estonian Research Council – September 17th/18th, 2015 – Tartu and Tallinn

Teachers’ Training „Good Scientific Practice“

Content• GSP: historical background; local, national and international

guidelines, rules and recommendations• Scientific misconduct: causes, definitions, types, frequency and

paradigmatic cases• Data management: generation, documentation, storage,

ownership and safeguarding• Authorship and the process of publishing• Supervision and mentoring• Conflicts of interest and scientific cooperation• Dealing with conflicts and scientific misconduct:

ombudspersons, whistleblowing, investigative commissions, procedures and consequences

• National and international resources on “good scientific practice”

• Teaching concepts: methodology, structure, case discussion, team teaching, evaluation

Estonian Research Council – September 17th/18th, 2015 – Tartu and Tallinn

Problems of implementation

• Additional teaching load• Compensation for additional work (money, time..)• Teaching task voluntary or obligatory• Voluntary vs. mandatory participation of students• “Lone fighter” or network• Missing overview about the real demand / need

• Discomfort in view of too much insider knowledge !

Estonian Research Council – September 17th/18th, 2015 – Tartu and Tallinn