Identifying and Reporting Research Misconduct
Research Integrity Policy
The Research Integrity Policy applies to all institutional personnel, which means faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, undergraduate students, senior administrators, research support staff and any other personnel involved directly or indirectly in research, including research associates, technical staff, adjunct professors, librarians, visiting professors, volunteers, observers, and institutional administrators and officials representing McMaster University.
Rectifying a Breach of Policy
Researchers who become aware they may have violated the expectations of a research policy are expected to be proactive in rectifying the situation, for example, by correcting the research record, providing a letter of apology to those affected, and/or repaying funds.
Distinguishing Misconduct from Honest Error or Scholarly Disagreement
Communities of scholars should be prepared to embrace novel or divergent ideas and methods. Research misconduct complaints are reserved for genuine breaches of the integrity of the research process where conduct deviates from the norms of the relevant research community, not honest errors, honest differences in methodology, interpretation or judgement, or divergent paradigms in research. For honest differences in methodology, interpretation or judgement, or divergent paradigms in research, the University encourages collegial discussion and dialogue within academic or scholarly forums (e.g. symposiums, publications, or letters to the editor) as an appropriate vehicle to refine and advance research. (Language used with the permission of the Division of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation, University of Toronto)
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Confidentiality
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Interim Measures
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