Deviations from good research practice
The Act on Responsibility for Good Research Practice and the Examination of Research Misconduct (2019:504) came into force on 1 January 2020. The law stipulates that researchers are responsible for maintaining good research practice in their research. The University has overall responsibility for ensuring that research is conducted in accordance with good research practice.
Suspected deviations from good research practice are to be reported to the Vice-Chancellor without delay.
Read more about how to report suspected deviations from good research practice here
Good research practice
All employees who participate in research activities at Lund University are responsible for ensuring that good research practice is followed by complying with the rules that apply to research. Some rules are contained in legally binding documents, such as laws, ordinances and regulations. Certain types of research require special approvals or permits. In addition, there are codes and guidelines that set ethical standards but are not legally binding, such as the ALLEA Code of Conduct (PDF 456 kB, new tab) and the Declaration of Helsinki. The ethical requirements applicable to research are to be met even in cases where they do not directly follow from legally binding regulations.
Definitions and investigative responsibilities
Good research practice is fundamental to research and entails honesty, accuracy, transparency and respect. A deviation from good research practice therefore means that the researcher is breaking these rules, which can damage confidence in research.
Research misconduct
The Act on Responsibility for Good Research Practice and the Examination of Research Misconduct (2019:504) defines misconduct in research as fabrication, falsification or plagiarism (FFP) committed intentionally or through gross negligence in the planning, implementation or reporting of research.
Suspicions of research misconduct (FFP) are investigated by the National Board for Assessment of Research Misconduct.
Other deviation from good research practice
Other deviation from good research practice refers to matters that risk damaging, or damage, the integrity of the research process, research or researchers, and that is committed intentionally or through gross negligence when planning, conducting or reporting research.
Suspected deviations that are not considered research misconduct are to be processed by the Deviations from Good Research Practice Review Board at Lund University.
Lund University’s guidelines
You can read more about definitions and procedures in Lund University's Guidelines for the Processing of Matters Relating to Suspected Deviation from Good Research Practice.
If deviations from good research practice are suspected
If you suspect that there has been a deviation from good research practice at Lund University, you are obliged to report this immediately to the Vice-Chancellor/the Deviations from Good Research Practice Review Board at Lund University. If the suspicion concerns misconduct only, the report can be made directly to the Swedish National Board for Assessment of Research Misconduct.
All reports submitted to the Deviations from Good Research Practice Review Board at Lund University are handled objectively and transparently. It is important to clarify that a report does not necessarily mean that there has been a deviation and a report should only be made if there is reasonable suspicion. As a researcher, reporting suspected deviations from good research practice solely for the purpose of discrediting someone else constitutes, in itself, a deviation from good research practice according to the University's guidelines.
Reporting
Suspected other deviations from good research practice other than research misconduct are to be reported to Lund University.
Suspected research misconduct (FFP) may be reported directly to the National Board for Assessment of Research Misconduct, the Deviations from Good Research Practice Review Board or the Vice-Chancellor at Lund University.
Read more about reporting suspected deviations from good research practice to Lund University
Support in matters relating to good research practice
All faculties have a research representative offering support in matters relating to good research practice. The representatives provide independent guidance, but they do not take a position on deviations from good research practice; this is done according to a special procedure, see the guidelines. The research representatives also work proactively to promote good research practice. They assist researchers and doctoral students on matters concerning good research practice and give independent advice and support on matters within the scope of research activities.
The faculties’ data stewards are another important source of advice, particularly on issues that concern data management related to research ethics.
Contact
Jessica Salomonsson Enetoft
Policy Officer
avvikelse_god_forskningssed [at] rektor [dot] lu [dot] se (avvikelse_god_forskningssed[at]rektor[dot]lu[dot]se)