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32 - Good research practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2010

Sue Eckstein
Affiliation:
King's College London
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Summary

Introduction and scope

The MRC expects all scientists, both clinical and nonclinical, funded by the Council (ie, MRC employees, visiting workers in MRC establishments, and recipients of MRC grants or training awards) to adopt the highest achievable standards in the conduct of their research. This means exhibiting impeccable scientific integrity and following the principles of good research practice.

The MRC Policy and Procedure for Inquiring into Allegations of Scientific Misconduct is published separately. This booklet outlines the key elements of good research practice, setting out the principles that should be taken into account when planning and conducting research, and likewise when recording, reporting, and applying the results.

The seven principles of public life outlined by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (Nolan Committee) in 1995 provide a good starting point:

  • selflessness

  • integrity

  • objectivity

  • accountability

  • openness

  • honesty

  • leadership

Other MRC guidance sets out the scientific and ethical principles underpinning the conduct of research; this guide is about ensuring that these principles are achieved in practice.

The Department of Health's Research Governance Framework (in draft, publication expected in 2001) addresses the need to clarify responsibilities for initiation, conduct, and oversight of research conducted within the NHS at organisational as well as personal levels.

Although these guidelines are primarily for scientists supported by the MRC, we hope that other researchers, and those involved in reviewing or supervising research, will find them helpful.

Principles

General principles

Good Research Practice (GRP) is essentially an attitude of mind that becomes an attitude to work.

It is about the way in which research is planned and conducted, the results are recorded and reported, and the fruits of research are disseminated, applied, and exploited.

Type
Chapter
Information
Manual for Research Ethics Committees
Centre of Medical Law and Ethics, King's College London
, pp. 205 - 213
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2003

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  • Good research practice
  • Edited by Sue Eckstein, King's College London
  • Book: Manual for Research Ethics Committees
  • Online publication: 08 January 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511550089.034
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  • Good research practice
  • Edited by Sue Eckstein, King's College London
  • Book: Manual for Research Ethics Committees
  • Online publication: 08 January 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511550089.034
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Good research practice
  • Edited by Sue Eckstein, King's College London
  • Book: Manual for Research Ethics Committees
  • Online publication: 08 January 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511550089.034
Available formats
×