1. in the community
Adapted from Shamoo A and Resnik D. 2009. Responsible Conduct
of Research, 2nd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press).

2. Social Responsibility
Strive to promote social good and prevent or mitigate social
harms through research, public education, and advocacy.
Does your research aim to improve the situation in your
community?
Have you spoken with members of the community to discuss how
you can best represent them?
Can you identify ways in which your project will educate,
enlighten or advocate on behalf of community members?

3. Honesty
Strive for honesty in all communications. Honestly report data,
results, methods and procedures, and publication status. Do
not fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent data. Do not deceive
colleagues, granting agencies, or the public.
Are you including all data as it is, without falsifying or editing
content to achieve an objective?
Are you honest with participants, colleagues and outside
parties about the status of your research, even if it is not
ideal?
Have you checked with outside researchers or organizations to
ensure that your methods and data are solid?

4. Objectivity
Strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data analysis, data
interpretation, peer review, personnel decisions, grant writing,
expert testimony, and other aspects of research where
objectivity is expected or required. Avoid or minimize bias or
self-deception. Disclose personal or financial interests that
may affect research.
Does your research present the whole picture, regardless of
any ideas you had prior to beginning the project?
Are you upfront with funders, participants and your audience
about your motives and factors that may affect your research
outcome?
Have you reviewed your project and its content to identify and
remove traces of bias?
Are you making it clear where quotations, anecdotes and
material may not represent your opinion as a researcher or
agency?

5. Integrity
Keep your promises and agreements; act with sincerity; strive
for consistency of thought and action. Researchers have a
responsibility to the community involved in the research –
upholding this responsibility will help ensure the integrity of
your research project.
When taking on a project, do you feel ready to make it a
priority?
Have you considered what the community and its members
have invested in your research?
Do your ambitions reflect what you are realistically capable of
doing?
Can you envision this project from beginning through to
completion? Do you have the resources to deliver on your
promises?

6. Carefulness
Avoid careless errors and negligence; carefully and critically
examine your own work and the work of your peers. Keep good
records of research activities, such as data collection,
research design, and correspondence with agencies or
journals.
Have you drafted a plan, detailing the steps of your research
project, before beginning?
Are you keeping records of the process as you work, including
data, drafts, correspondences and expenses?
Are you allowing yourself sufficient time to complete each step
carefully and conscientiously?
Are your deadlines realistic? Are you able to work without
rushing to the point of it impacting the quality of your product?

7. Respect for intellectual
property
Give credit where credit is due. Give proper acknowledgement
or credit for all contributions to research. Ensuring that you
reference sources properly is a key component to ensuring that
your work is credible and taken seriously.
Are you fully aware of what could be considered plagiarism
and how to avoid it?
Do you give credit for all ideas, text, media and data that are
not 100% original?
Do you consult resources in order to properly reference your
sources?
Is your research organized, with the original source of all your
material clearly recorded and available?

8. Respect for colleagues
Respect your colleagues and treat them fairly.
Do you communicate with your colleagues throughout the
research process?
Are you open to discussion and willing to be flexible to meet
the interests of everyone involved?
Do you make time for your colleagues, ensuring that their
ideas are heard?
Do you give your colleagues adequate credit for their roles and
contributions?
Have you made clear your own responsibilities, as well as your
expectations of those you are working with?

9. Non-discrimination
Do not discriminate against colleagues or participants on the
basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or other factors that are not
related to their scientific competence and integrity.
Are you able to identify which factors are relevant and which
are irrelevant to a person’s ability to contribute?
Are you conscious of your behaviour when interacting with
others, and careful to omit judgment, bias and preconception?
Are you treating every colleague and participant equally?
Does your research fairly represent all members of the group
you are focusing on? Are you certain you are not overlooking
any portion of the population, either intentionally or
unintentionally?