Responsible research culture advice

OFFICE OF RESEARCH ETHICS AND INTEGRITY

Research Ethics and Integrity

RESEARCH INTEGRITY

The Research Integrity Office manages any potential breach of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (‘the Code’).  Breaches of the Code include issues which may fall under the following areas:

  • Plagiarism
  • Authorship
  • Data fabrication, falsification or misrepresentation
  • Data Management
  • Fairness in the treatment of others
  • Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through engagement in research that affects them
  • Responsible and accurate dissemination of research
  • Supervision
  • Conflicts of Interest
  • Peer Review
  • For further information on what constitutes a breach of the Code, please see Monash University’s Procedure for Investigating Code Breaches.

To report a suspected breach of the Code, please contact the Research Integrity Team.

For general advice around whether your matter may constitute a potential breach of the Code, please contact a Research Integrity Advisor (RIA) in the first instance for a confidential conversation.

HUMAN ETHICS

The Human Ethics Office oversees research conducted at Monash University involving humans in line with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (‘the National Statement’).

As defined in the Statement, human research constitutes research conducted about people, their data or tissue and includes:

·    Taking part in surveys, interviews or focus groups

·    Undergoing psychological, physiological or medical testing or treatment

·    Being observed by researchers

·    Researchers having access to their personal documents or other materials

·    The collection and use of their body organs, tissues or fluids

·    Access to their information (in individually identifiable, re-identifiable or non-identifiable form)

For further information and support on whether your research requires human ethics approval, please contact the Human Ethics Office.

ANIMAL ETHICS

The Animal Ethics Office oversees the care and use of animals for research and teaching purposes at Monash University.  All research and teaching involving animals must be:

·    Ethically reviewed and monitored in accordance with the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes

·    Designed and conducted in accordance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act Regulations; and

·    Compliant with Monash University’s Responsible Conduct of Research Policy and related supporting procedures

For further information and support on the use of animals for research and teaching purposes, please contact the Animal Ethics Office.

OTHER RESEARCH COMPLIANCE

Gene Technology:  For information and support related to the use of Gene Technology in research and any obligations under the Gene Technology Legislative Scheme, please contact the Gene Technology team.

Biosecurity & Quarantine: For information and support related to Biosecurity and Quarantine matters as they relate to research at Monash University, please contact the Biosecurity and Quarantine team.

Export Controls: For information related to Export Controls and the prevention of goods and technology being used in chemical, biological and nuclear weapons or military goods and technologies, please contact the International Research Safeguards team.

WORKPLACE MATTERS, BEHAVIOURS AND EMPLOYMENT

The Safer Community Unit is available to staff and students to listen, offer confidential advice and debrief on any concerning, threatening and inappropriate behaviour at Monash.

For more information about how to raise concerns related to employment at Monash, see policies and procedures including those relating to:

  • Mandatory compliance training
  • Behaviours in the workplace - including definitions for unacceptable behaviours, discrimination, harassment, bullying, vilification and more, and process and contacts for reporting unacceptable behaviour
  • Resolution of unacceptable behaviour and discrimination
  • Conflict of interest
  • Declaration of Interests
  • Paid outside work
  • Employment conditions
  • Data protection and privacy
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Staff / student personal relationships
  • Leave and wellbeing
  • Gifts policy

Responsible Research Culture Advisors can provide advice about supporting externally facing partnerships and collaborations.

GRADUATE RESEARCH

Graduate research students with a complaint are encouraged to proceed with the stages outlined here. Students are encouraged to first try to resolve the issue informally, before beginning a formal process.

Tips for resolving the issue informally (stage 1) are outlined here, along with subsequent processes if an issue is not resolved. These include how and when to informally escalate the complaint, what to expect from the process, and what to do if you still feel that your matter has not been resolved.

Concerns about the conduct of PhD and Masters by research students can be raised using the same steps as concerns about the conduct of research staff described elsewhere in this document.