1.   Responsible Conduct
        of Research

The starting point   

Society has a vested interest in the research carried out at Stanford University - not only in the outcomes of that research, but also in the methods used and manner in which the work is conducted and supported. Much goes into the research enterprise at universities like Stanford, and much is expected in return.

One reason for public interest stems from simple cost/benefit analysis. In 2005 Stanford received $973 million for sponsored research, accounting for 37 percent of the university's revenue.

Introduction to
Research at
Stanford
[ SU site ]

The public is well served by this investment. Not only have critical discoveries emerged from this work, but so have generations of leadership in all fields of human endeavor.

Unlike the popular image of an "ivory tower," academic research is conducted in a social context, and human values enter into the process at many levels. To maintain confidence and trust in this enterprise, researchers must aggressively protect the empirical objectivity of research, the unbiased reporting of results, and the open sharing of that information for the good of society.

Issues that can impinge on public trust and confidence in research are brought together under the heading of "research integrity," and include such topics as:

• environmental health & safety
• use and protection of human subjects and lab animals
• conflicts of interest
• publication, intellectual property and data
• error, negligence or misconduct
• response to violations of ethical standards.

Issues around these topics will take different shape depending on the academic discipline and individual program of research. In all cases, Stanford establishes the expectation for the highest standards of responsible research conduct - standards which are, in many cases, reinforced by law or sponsor regulations. Stanford also holds its principal investigators responsible for determining the intellectual direction of research and scholarship, for the training of graduate students, and for the technical and fiscal management of sponsored projects. Eligibility to act as a PI or Co-PI at Stanford is therefore a privilege limited to members of the Academic Council, with exceptions only as specified by Academic Senate policy.

The next sections of this tutorial examine Stanford's policies and requirements in these areas. These sections are brief; they serve only to introduce the researcher to issues, and to direct the researcher to resources for more information and assistance.

Some of these sections make use of a publication of the National Academy of Sciences, "On Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct In Research." The National Academy of Sciences waives permission for the use of this material for educational purposes.