UNI encourages all faculty, staff, and students involved in research to obtain training in how to maintain the highest standards of research integrity. There are a variety of approaches available to identifying training and educational opportunities in this area. Most research courses at UNI incorporate various aspects of ethics training in their curricula, and special courses devoted to the study of ethics are offered through certain departments which may include studies specific to research ethics. Special workshops and seminars are offered periodically at UNI as well, for faculty, staff, and/or students, through the College of Business, College of Humanities and Fine Arts, and others. For more information on Academic Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research at UNI please contact Anita Gordon, 319-273-6148.

University Policies

UNI Academic Ethics Policy - Faculty: Outlines ethical standards of responsibility for faculty members to scholarship, students, colleagues, the university, and the larger community which the university serves.

UNI Academic Ethics Policy - Students: Students at the University of Northern Iowa are required to observe the commonly accepted standards of academic honesty and integrity.

UNI Research Misconduct Policy - Faculty, Staff, and Students: Provides guidance in addressing alleged research misconduct by faculty, staff, and students affiliated with the University of Northern Iowa.

Research Ethics Training and Education

2011 Ethics in Scholarship for Graduate Students

This is a videotape of a workshop held at UNI on October 3, 2011.  Two topics were covered:  1) Ownership of Intellectual and Creative Works, including plagiarism; and 2) Mentoring Relationships.  Each topic was addressed through four activities:  a) a 20-minute presentation by Dr. Helen Harton on the topic; b) role play/skit by “Half-Masted”, a local student improv acting group, led by Dr. Doug Shaw, followed by audience questions put to the actors; c) small group discussion at each table facilitated by a designated faculty or staff member, d) large group discussion facilitated by workshop facilitator Dr. Amy Petersen.  Drs. Lauren Nelson, Brenda Bass, and Kristin Mack, while not in the forefront on the video, were also instrumental in putting together the workshop.  The video is about 2 hours long, with approximately half devoted to each topic.  The agenda and materials for the workshop are posted below. 

Workshop Video - 2011 Ethics in Scholarship for Graduate Students

Workshop agenda

Topic 1 Powerpoint slides (See link to updated 2012 powerpoint below)

Topic 1 Role play materials, including sample discussion questions*

Topic 2 Powerpoint slides

Topic 2 Role play materials, including sample discussion questions*

General handout on academic and research ethics resources

*Please note that the role plays outlined in the written materials are not exactly the same as the those portrayed by the improvisational actors.

Faculty showing this in class may find it helpful to pause the video when the small group discussions ensue, in order to allow for in-class discussion of the topic.  (Only 2 minutes of small group discussion time for each topic are shown on the video.) 

2012 Ethics in Scholarship for Graduate Students

The 2012 workshop was not taped because the session was very similar to the 2011 workshop. However, the Topic 1 powerpoint was updated. See: Topic I: Intellectual Property by Francis Degnin and Helen Harton.

IRB Training Video

A video was also made of a 90-minute training presentation for students and faculty by Dr. Helen Harton focused on human subjects protections and IRB requirements.  More information about this video can be found at IRB Training. 

CITI Program

UNI subscribes to the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) program, which offers online training in the following areas:

1. Human Participant Protection - By completing the Protection of Human Research Subjects training course, researchers learn about issues in research with human participants. Four Basic Courses are available through UNI in the Protection of Human Research Subjects: Biomedical Focus, Social and Behavioral Focus, IRB Members Course and Other Groups.
2. Animal Care and Use - This module meets the federal (USDA, OLAW) requirements for basic training in the humane care and use of animals in research and teaching.
3. Responsible Conduct of Research -This training includes discipline specific courses in Biomedical, Social & Behavioral Research, Physical Sciences, Humanities, Engineers, and for Administrators. RCR topics covered in this module include Research Misconduct, Data Management, Conflict of Interest, Collaborative Science, Responsible Authorship, Mentoring, Peer Review, LabAnimals, and Human Subjects.
4. Export Controls - After completing this module the learner should be able to: 1. Describe the three major sets of regulations that regulate the export of materials, technology, technical data, and software from the United States. 2. Define and use key terms and concepts critical to understanding U.S. export regulations. 3. Understand why it is important for researchers in U.S. institutions of higher education to have a core knowledge of U.S. export regulations. 
5. Conflicts of Interest - This training may be taken by anyone at UNI, but is targeted towards those involved in research projects that are funded by U.S. Public Health Service (NIH, AHQR, DHHS)

Requirements for Ethics Training on NSF Grants

Detailed description of UNI requirements regarding Ethics Training for researchers on NSF grants.

Requirements for Training on NIH Grants

The National Institute of Health requires that all trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving support through any NIH training, career development award (individual or institutional), research education grant, and dissertation research grant must receive instruction in responsible conduct of research. Pertinent regulations are outlined in NOT-OD-10-019. Please contact Anita Gordon for further information on UNI requirements regarding Ethics Training for researchers on NIH Grants.

Professional Standards

Database of professional codes of ethics, maintained by the Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions and archived in Ethics CORE

Committee on Publication Ethics

Resources

Office of Research Integrity – ORI is the key federal agency that oversees the Responsible Conduct of Research – has a comprehensive compilation of articles, tutorials, and instructional resources related to Research Ethics.

Ethics CORE - This is a national resource center and collaborative space for ethics and responsible conduct of research materials and experts, maintained by the University of Illinois National Ethics Center.

American Association for the Advancement of Science – AAAS has a wide variety of resources on scientific integrity, including listings for web/media resources, conferences, blogs, and government links and documents.

Open Seminar in Research Ethics - This is a collection of free course and curriculum materials on research ethics from a variety of academic institutions. Courses are open to students of the listed institutions, teachers and all guests. Visitors can choose to actually take the course, or simply view all of the accessible modules, sub-modules and assignments. Modules cover topics ranging from Mentoring, to Whistleblowing, to the Ethical Principles of Research.

"The Lab"  - The Office of Research Integrity recently released a new interactive video useful for faculty, staff, and students that depicts possible research misconduct in a science lab and allows viewers to take on one of the character roles and actually make decisions along the way that direct the video action in one direction or another.  The acting in the video is fairly good, and it is a nice resource for training and coursework in the sciences and possibly other fields as well.  OSP has a copy of the DVD that we can loan to faculty, or you can use the link above to watch it online or order your own copy.  The video is accompanied by a Facilitator's Guide to support group discussion.

Publications on hand

At the Office of Sponsored Programs UNI:

Contact Anita Gordon for information.

• Graduate Education for the Conduct of Research. Council of Graduate Schools (2006).
• On Being a Scientist. A Guide to Responsible Conduct in Research. The National Academies Press (2009).
• ORI Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research. Nicholas Steneck, Department of Health and Human Services (2003).  
• Panel on Scientific Responsibility and the Conduct of Research. Responsible Science, Volume I: Ensuring the Integrity of the Research Process. The National Academies Press (1992).
• Panel on Scientific Responsibility and the Conduct of Research. Responsible Science, Volume II: Background Papers and Resource Documents. The National Academies Press (1993).
• Research and Scholarly Integrity in Graduate Education: A Comprehensive Approach (2012).  Washington D.C.: Council of Graduate Schools.
• Responding to Allegations of Research Misconduct: Inquiry, Investigation, and Outcomes, a Practicum. AAAS and U.S. ORI (2000).

In Rod Library UNI:

• Bertram Gallant, T.  (2008).  Academic Integrity in the Twenty First Century: A Teaching and Learning Imperative.  Ashe Higher Education Report 33 (5)