Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research
Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR) planning and training is considered essential for preparing future scientists and engineers because it is critical for public trust and excellence in science and engineering. RECR training helps researchers develop a culture of integrity, understand ethical issues, and make responsible choices when faced with ethical dilemmas. It also helps researchers learn about institutional policies and best research practices.
Planning Templates for Proposal Submission
Certification of RECR Student Training Completed
Required Training in RECR
- CITI knowledgebase: Taking Courses
- Guide to Getting Started
- Search for: Add a Course (choose 1)
- Guide to Getting Started
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Office of Research Integrity's new YouTube Channel has a variety of research integrity video resources all in one place. Visit ORI’s new channel and subscribe to receive updates about new content!
https://www.youtube.com/@HHS_ORI
Many funding agencies require researchers to provide ongoing training and certification in ethical and responsible research conduct for their student assistants.
Common agency policies are below, along with tools for CSUMB researchers to provide to students who need CITI training and certification.
The National Institutes of Health requires that all applicants for Institutional National Research Service Award (NRSA) Research Training Grants (T32, T34) include explanation of an educational program in the responsible conduct of research.
Applications that do not include a plan for RCR instruction are considered incomplete.
The NIH suggests that the RCR instructional program include the following topics:
- Conflict of interest
- Responsible authorship
- Policies for handling misconduct
- Policies regarding the use of human participants and animal subjects
- Data management
The proposed plan must include
- Subject matter of the instruction
- Format of the instruction
- Degree of faculty participation
- Trainee attendance
- Frequency of instruction
In December of 2000, the Public Health Service issued a policy requiring all researchers supported by PHS funding to complete a program of instruction in the responsible conduct of research.
Congress has suspended the policy and has asked the PHS to review the format and content of the policy. The Office for Research Integrity (ORI) is currently revising the policy and plans to re-release the policy in the future.
The suspended policy required PHS supported researchers to engage in education on the following topics:
- Data management and integrity
- Mentor/trainee responsibilities
- Publication practices and responsible authorship
- Peer review
- Collaborative science
- Human subjects
- Research involving animals
- Research misconduct
- Conflict of interest and commitment
Research institutions nationwide are taking steps to implement RCR educational programs prior to the re-release of the policy.
Section 7009 of the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Act (42 USC 1862o–1), as amended, requires that each institution that applies for financial assistance from the Foundation for science and engineering research or education describe in its grant proposal a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and other senior personnel supported by the proposed research project. Such training must include mentor training and mentorship.