Research ethics

Research ethics training is a statutory duty. Many of the questions and challenges addressed in this report touch on research ethics. The OECD report Integrity and Security in the Global Research Ecosystem (2022), stresses that research integrity, security and international research cooperation are closely linked.

What is covered by research ethics?

Research ethics can be defined as values, norms and institutional arrangements that help constitute and regulate scientific activities. Research integrity and trust in research depend on the research community being committed to such standards, and other actors in the research system must also recognise and comply with ethical and legal framework conditions for research. The Act on the Organisation of Research Ethics (Research Ethics Act) regulates the organisation of research ethics work in Norway. The purpose of the Act is to ensure that all public and private research is conducted in accordance with recognised research ethics norms (Section 1). The Act stipulates that the research institutions are responsible for teaching research ethics and for dealing with cases involving possible breaches of research ethics norms (Sections 5 and 6). A new Research Ethics Act was adopted in 2017 to, among other things, specify further institutional responsibilities in relation to research ethics.

What does the Research Ethics Act require of institutions?

The Act requires institutions to:

• ensure that the research at the institution is conducted in accordance with recognised research ethics norms
• conduct training in research ethics for candidates and employees
• ensure that everyone who participates in the research is familiar with research ethics norms
• consider all cases of possible breaches of research ethical norms, called misconduct cases in the Act
• have guidelines on how such cases should be treated
• appoint a committee to consider misconduct cases
• report cases of possible serious violations to the National Commission for the Investigation of Research Misconduct.

In Norway, recognised research ethics norms are defined through national research ethics guidelines. The research environments themselves define the content of research ethics. The National Research Ethics Committees (FEK) consist of academically independent committees and are broadly composed of researchers and lay people. The committees are preparing a national research ethics guidelines and guides for different subject areas. FEK is preparing a guide on the institutions’ research ethics works, which will be completed in 2023. The National Research Ethics Committees have also written general research ethics guidelines as an introduction to research ethics principles and norms across disciplines.

What are the general principles of research ethics?

• Respect: Persons participating in research, as informants or otherwise, shall be treated with respect.
• Good consequences: Researchers shall seek to ensure that their activities produce good consequences and that any adverse consequences are within the limits of acceptability.
• Fairness: All research projects shall be designed and implemented fairly.
• Integrity: Researchers shall comply with recognised norms and behave responsibly, openly and honestly towards their colleagues and the public.

What international frameworks exist for research ethics and integrity?

A joint European framework has been developed, The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, which is incorporated in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Article 35 Ethics and Research Integrity). A new revised version was completed in 2023. The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity complements the Norwegian legislation and the research ethics guidelines in different disciplines. The National Research Ethics Committees have translated them into Norwegian on behalf of KD - the new version is yet to be translated.

As the subject areas are different, and the regulation of research ethics varies between different areas and different countries, challenges may arise related to interdisciplinarity and international cooperation.

The need to secure the integrity of research through a common understanding among the research environments at a global level led to the launch of the World Conference on Research Integrity. The Montreal Statement from 2013 contains 20 principles on which research cooperation should be based. The statement's main message is that partners must take collective responsibility for the credibility of the overall research collaboration.

Proposed assessments and procedures for management and administration

• Consider whether information about research ethics policies, systems and procedures for research integrity and ethics is readily available on the institution’s website.
• Consider the need to provide more training in research ethics guidelines during the course of education and internally within the organisation.
• Consider whether the institution has established satisfactory mechanisms for dealing with suspected breaches of research ethics norms.
• Consider whether satisfactory procedures have been established for clarifying partiality/conflicts of interest in relation to the execution of research, funding, peer review, evaluation and cooperation.
• Consider whether the procedures related to the publication and dissemination of research are sufficiently specified, for example in relation to guidelines for authorship and procedures for handling any disputes.
• Consider whether there is a need to establish discussion forums for reflection on ethical dilemmas and conflicts of interest.

Proposed assessments and procedures for the academic community

• Make an ethical assessment of the research project with reference to relevant guidelines and regulations.
• Consider research ethics issues before entering into international cooperation. Perceptions and legislation may differ between countries.
• Consider whether everyone who carries out or participates in the research is familiar with recognised research ethics norms.
• Consider implications for health, safety and the environment for society, employees and others associated with or affected by the research.
• Consider the potential harm and risk that may arise from the research.