Co-creating research integrity education guidelines for research institutions

Abstract

Background: To foster research integrity (RI), research institutions should develop a continuous approach to RI education, addressing various target groups. To support research institutions achieve this, we developed RI education guidelines together with RI experts and research administrators, exploring similarities and differences in recommendations across target groups, as well as recommendations about RI education using approaches other than formal RI training. Methods: We used an iterative co-creative process. After exploring the literature, we conducted four half-day online co-creation workshops with 16 participants. In the first two workshops, participants generated ideas for guidelines’ content focusing on different target groups and various approaches to RI education, based on which we developed first drafts of the guidelines. Participants in the third and fourth workshop refined those drafts. We next organized a working group which further prioritized, reorganized, and optimized the content of the guidelines. Results: We developed four guidelines on RI education focusing on a) bachelor, master and PhD students; b) post-doctorate and senior researchers; c) other RI stakeholders; as well as d) continuous RI education. Across guidelines, we recommend mandatory RI training; follow-up refresher training; informal discussions about RI; appropriate rewards and incentives for active participation in RI education; and evaluation of RI educational events. Conclusions: Our work provides experience-based co-created guidance to research institutions on what to consider when developing a successful RI education strategy. Each guideline will be offered as a distinct, publicly available tool in our toolbox (https://sops4ri.eu/toolbox/) which institutions can access, adapt and implement to meet their institution-specific RI education needs.

Ähnliche Arbeiten