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(1) QUT is committed to the highest standard of integrity in research. The University expects all staff, researchers and research students to comply with all relevant policies, procedures, standards and regulatory obligations. The QUT Code for Responsible Conduct of Research (the QUT Research Code) forms an integral part of the University’s Research Governance Framework and promotes ethical research behaviour within the University community consistent with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018 (the Code). (2) The QUT Research Code imposes requirements on researchers in addition to the general ethical obligations for members of the University community set out in the Code of Conduct - Staff and Code of Conduct - Student. (3) The QUT Code for Responsible Conduct of Research applies to all staff (regardless of employment type), students and visitors, who undertake, assist or support research activities within or in association with QUT. (4) The QUT Research Code is based on the following principles: (5) The University has no tolerance for any misconduct or unethical behaviour in its research activities. Researchers have a responsibility to ensure accurate representation of all information relating to their research outputs. Failure to abide by the responsibilities outlined in the QUT Research Code may constitute a breach of the Code and will be investigated in accordance with the Managing and Investigating Potential Breaches of the QUT Code for Responsible Conduct of Research Policy, consistent with the NHMRC Guide to Managing and Investigating potential breaches of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research. (6) The University recognises that research data is a valuable asset and must be stored and managed appropriately in accordance with University policy, ethical guidelines, relevant legislation and discipline-specific standards of best practice. (7) Researchers have a responsibility to retain clear, accurate and complete records of all research related data and materials to support the principles of honesty and transparency. Research data should generally be made available, in accordance with Management of Research Data and Primary Materials Policy, for use by other researchers, both within and external to QUT, subject to funding body, contractual, commercialisation, ethical, privacy or confidentiality considerations. (8) All research data, including primary materials, are considered to be University records and must be stored, disposed of or transferred in accordance with the Records Governance Policy. The University is committed to the protection of personal information which may be contained in research data and primary materials. When collecting, storing, using or disclosing personal information, researchers must abide by the mandatory requirements of the Information Privacy Act 2009 and the University's Information Privacy Policy. Research involving Indigenous Australians should ensure that decisions regarding access to, reuse and ownership of data or information include consultation with its Indigenous owners. (9) QUT supports the development of respectful, culturally aware and professional relationships between researchers and their supervisors. The University requires all research students and staff involved in research complete the Research Integrity Training (QUT staff access only) and be appropriately trained in relevant research policies, procedures and the University’s expectations for ethical and responsible behaviour. (10) Research Integrity Online is required training for: (11) Faculty Executive Deans, together with Heads of School are responsible for ensuring: (12) Supervisors of research students and staff must: (13) The University expects staff and students under supervision to: (14) Publication and dissemination of research is a vital component of the research process that encourages innovation, fosters collaboration, enhances community engagement and allows the benefits of research to be recognised. (15) Before disseminating research findings, researchers must be aware of and consider: (16) When publicising or disseminating research findings, researchers must ensure that: (17) The University encourages the broad dissemination of accurate research findings in a responsible manner. All researchers must be aware of their responsibilities for disseminating research, specifically QUT’s Open Access for QUT Research Outputs (Including Theses) Policy. (18) All researchers working on sensitive information, technology or biological agents must advise the University as soon as they suspect their research or a publication arising from their research may be subject to Australian export controls and sanctions regimes and comply with QUTs Trade Controls for Goods, Software, Technology and Services Policy. (19) Appropriate attribution of authorship ensures individuals’ contributions to published research are acknowledged and credit for the research is assigned honestly and fairly. QUT expects that the authorship of all research outputs (as defined in NHRMC’s Authorship: A guide supporting the Australia Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research) will be properly determined in accordance with authorship criteria. Researchers are to ensure that attributed authors are all those, and only those, who have made a significant intellectual or scholarly contribution to the research and its output, and that they agree to be listed as an author. (20) A significant intellectual or scholarly contribution must include one and should include a combination of two or more of the following: (21) Authors must ensure that the work of research students/trainees, research assistants, technical officers and Indigenous peoples is properly acknowledged. Individuals and organisations providing facilities and funding should also be acknowledged. (22) Collectively, authors are accountable for the entire research output and are each responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of their contribution. Authors are also responsible for taking reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the contributions of all other co-authors. (23) Corresponding authors have primary responsibility for ensuring appropriate recognition of all contributors, maintaining records of any authorship agreements (both formal and informal), obtaining approval from all authors to publish research outputs prior to submission and ensuring authors’ affiliations are accurate. (24) Schools, centres and research groups are responsible for encouraging and promoting responsible authorship practices that are considered appropriate within the discipline area. The Head of School, institute Executive Director or Centre Director is responsible for the resolution of conflicts arising through disputes about authorship. Where resolution cannot be achieved, the matter should be escalated to the Executive Dean of the faculty. If resolution of the matter is not possible, the matter should be referred to the Head of Research Portfolio for consideration. (25) Peer review provides impartial and expert assessment of proposed research and research outputs, helping to maintain high standards of research. Peer review is an essential component of maintaining research integrity. The University strongly encourages researchers to participate in opportunities for peer review across the whole research cycle. (26) Schools, centres and research groups are responsible for encouraging and promoting responsible peer review practices that are considered appropriate within the discipline area, consistent with the following principles: (27) When acting as a peer reviewer, QUT expects researchers to conduct reviews responsibly in accordance with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018 and the principles described above. Any member of the QUT community engaged to assist in peer review for external funding bodies or publishers must also abide by the external establishment’s policies in addition to QUT’s Research code. (28) Peer review of researcher outputs is promoted by QUT to provide assurance to the public and research community that work conducted by QUT researchers is of the highest quality and integrity. Any researcher whose work is undergoing peer review must declare all relevant conflicts of interest, not seek to influence the peer review process or outcomes and respond to reviewers’ comments in a professional manner. (29) QUT supports collaborative research with other researchers and other institutions (including industry partners, government and not-for-profit sectors), both within Australia and internationally. (30) QUT researchers should exercise caution in selecting collaborators, bearing in mind that they will be accountable for research outputs. Researchers should implement mechanisms to establish trust — for example to access and verify data. Formal collaborative research agreements with other institutions should be in writing and must be formally approved in accordance with the Register of Authorities and Delegations and the Contracts and Legal Instruments Management Policy. (31) Formal collaborative research agreements should address: (32) Where a collaborative research project involves an undergraduate or postgraduate student, it is the supervisor’s responsibility to ensure a Student Intellectual Property and Confidentiality Deed is in place. (33) All researchers involved in collaborative research must be aware of, understand, and comply with all policies and agreements relating to the project. QUT expects all researchers involved in collaborative research to observe responsible research practices and report any potential breaches in accordance with QUT's policy on Managing and Investigating Potential Breaches of the QUT Code for Responsible Conduct of Research Policy and the procedures described within the collaborative agreement. (34) QUT recognises that conflicts of interest may arise on occasion between an individual’s personal and research interests. Staff and students have a responsibility to disclose and appropriately manage all research related conflicts of interest in accordance with QUT’s Conflict of Interest Policy and the Procedures for managing conflicts of interest in research (Research conflicts of interest). (35) Depending on the type of conflict staff and students may have obligations to disclose the conflict to other bodies, including: (36) Irrespective of the tools used, researchers will be responsible for the integrity, rigour, and originality of their research outputs and applications for research funding. Any use of generative AI tools in research must be consistent with the University’s Position Statement on the responsible use of generative AI tools in research (Artificial intelligence). (37) Refer to Register of Authorities and Delegations (C015) (QUT staff access only).QUT Code for Responsible Conduct of Research
Section 1 - Purpose
Section 2 - Application
Section 3 - Roles and Responsibilities
Top of Page
Director, Graduate Research Centre
Research Integrity Advisors
Section 4 - Principles
Top of PageSection 5 - Research Misconduct
Section 6 - Specific Requirements for the Conduct of Research
Management of Research Data
Supervision and Training of Research Students and Staff
Publication and Dissemination of Research Findings
Authorship
Peer Review
Collaborative Research
Research Related Conflicts of Interest
Generative Artificial Intelligence
Section 7 - Definitions
Top of Page
Term
Definition
Breach
Is defined in the Managing and Investigating Potential Breaches of the QUT Code for Responsible Conduct of Research Policy.
Collaborative Research
Means research undertaken between researchers from different academic departments and/or institutions that are working together to achieve a common goal.
Conflict of Interest
Is defined in the Conflict of Interest Policy.
Peer Review
Means the impartial and independent assessment of research by others working in the same or a related field.
Research
Is defined in Managing and Investigating Potential Breaches of the QUT Code for Responsible Conduct of Research Policy.
Research Data
Is defined in the Management of Research Data and Primary Materials Policy.
Research Governance
Is defined in the Research Governance Framework.
Research Misconduct
Is defined in Managing and Investigating Potential Breaches of the QUT Code for Responsible Conduct of Research Policy.
Research Output
Means modes that communicate or make available the findings of research that may be in hardcopy, electronic or other form. Examples of research outputs include journal articles, book chapters, books, conference papers, reports, datasets, patents and patent applications, performances, videos and exhibitions.
Supervision
Means overseeing a staff member or student, their activities and actions for whom you are responsible. Under this Policy it is principally directed to supervision of early career researchers, Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates, undergraduate students and other research trainees.
Section 8 - Delegations