‘I should do what?’ Addressing research misconduct through values alignment

Bibliographic Data

ID21787597
AuthorsKate Chatfield (0000-0001-8109-0535, University of Lancashire, corresponding author), Emma Law (0009-0003-1220-3040, Protas, UK)
Year2024
Volume20
Issue2
Pages251-271
Publication date2024-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueResearch Ethics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1747-0161 • E-ISSN: 2047-6094
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/17470161231224481
OpenAlexW4391540694
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited44

Evidence suggests that the incidence of research misconduct is not in decline despite efforts to improve awareness, education and governance mechanisms. Two responses to this problem are favoured: first, the promotion of an agent-centred ethics approach to enhance researchers’ personal responsibility and accountability, and second, a change in research culture to relieve perceived pressures to engage in misconduct. This article discusses the challenges for both responses and explains how normative coherence through values alignment might assist. We argue that research integrity and research ethics convey mixed messages, which are likely to contribute to a form of normative confusion. For the successful adoption of an agent-centred approach, normative coherence is needed between the two. To facilitate normative coherence, we propose that research ethics and research integrity be underpinned by a shared set of moral values that can be enacted via codes and guidelines and imbue research environments. Furthermore, to facilitate culture change, the same normative coherence is necessary at all levels of an institution. Only via values alignment between institutional aims, management, institutional practices and researchers can an ethical culture become truly embedded in research institutions

Engineering ethics · Misconduct · Political science · Research integrity · Scientific Misconduct · Engineering · Ethics in Business and Education · Ethics in medical practice · Law · Medicine · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment

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Open DOIOpen Access