Data Management
See the FAQs related to the Data Management Policy for guidance regarding data management.
Appropriate Conduct of Research
How can I learn more about federal requirements for proper conduct of research and investigator responsibilities?
All agencies publish guidelines and policy for research conduct. For example, NIH publishes the NIH Grants Policy Statement (NIHGPS), which makes available, in a single document, the policy requirements that serve as the terms and conditions of NIH grant awards. By accepting an award, recipients agree to comply with the requirements in the NIH Grants Policy Statement except where the notice of award states otherwise. The NSF publishes a guide to terms and conditions for NSF awards, the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
I use Adobe Photoshop when preparing figures. What is allowed and not allowed when editing images collected in a research project?
First of all, the original images, unedited, must be retained and become part of the research record. Any image editing must be carried out on copies of the image. Never modify an image in a way that changes the meaning of the image. For example, when using image-processing software to prepare a blot for viewing, it is improper to add or delete a band, to differentially adjust the intensity of one or more bands, to label an image from one experiment as representing a different experiment, to splice lanes without using a line indicating the deletion, or to juxtapose pieces from different gels onto a single image.
Is it appropriate to statistically analyze data during a study and stop data collection when p < 0.05.
No. This practice is known as p-hacking, and may result in false positive results. A power analysis should be conducted prior to the onset of the study, and data collected from an adequate number of subjects prior to data analysis.
Authorship
I have a disagreement with my project leader about authorship. I feel I am not getting credit for my contributions. Where can I get help?
If discussion with the manuscript authors and corresponding author do not resolve this, the dispute may be taken to a higher level (the department chair or dean’s office).
What are the criteria for inclusion as an author?
One common standard is that each author should have participated in formulating the research problem, interpreting the results, and writing the research paper, and should be prepared to defend the publication against criticisms. A person’s name should not be listed as author without their knowledge, permission, and review of the final version of the manuscript that includes the names of all coauthors. The Guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors are generally accepted standards for authorship in all fields.
What is "self-plagiarism?"
‘Self-plagiarism’ also known as text recycling occurs when an author re-uses previously published text in later publications or manuscripts submitted for publication. Such re-use of one’s own words does not fall within the definition of research misconduct and, therefore, would not be investigated under research integrity policy. In the background, introduction, research description, results, and discussion sections, however, self-plagiarism is ethically dubious and may constitute a failure to meet the standards of professionalism in some disciplines. Self-plagiarism may also violate copyright law and therefore be subject to legal penalties. The University expects scholars to follow the guidelines published by the Office of Research Integrity of the Department of Health and Human Services. Guidelines and examples relevant to the topic of self-plagiarismare available.
Who needs to complete Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training?
All individuals involved in research are required to complete the CITI Responsible Conduct of Research course before performing research activities. Additional training may also be required for individuals conducting particular types of research (e.g., research on human or animal subjects). See the Office of Research Protections Training Hub for more information.