Responsible Conduct of Research
The Components of RCR
1. Data acquisition, management, sharing, and ownership
Accepted practices for acquiring and maintaining research data. Proper methods for record keeping and electronic data collection and storage in scientific research. Includes defining what constitutes data; keeping data notebooks; data selection, retention, sharing, ownership, and analysis; data as legal documents and intellectual property, including copyright laws.
2. Mentor/trainee responsibilities
The responsibilities of mentors and trainees in predoctoral and postdoctoral research programs. Includes the role of a mentor, responsibilities of a mentor, conflicts between mentor and trainee, collaboration and competition, selection of a mentor, and abusing the mentor/trainee relationship.
3. Publication practices and responsible authorship
The purpose and importance of scientific publication, and the responsibilities of the authors. Includes topics such as collaborative work and assigning appropriate credit, acknowledgements, appropriate citations, repetitive publications, fragmentary publication, sufficient description of methods, corrections and retractions, conventions for deciding upon authors, authors' responsibilities, and the pressure to publish.
4. Peer review
The purpose of peer review in determining merit for research funding and publications. Includes topics such as, the definition of peer review, impartiality, how peer review works, editorial boards and ad hoc reviewers, responsibilities of the reviewers, privileged information and confidentiality.
5. Collaborative science
Research collaborations and issues that may arise from such collaborations. Includes topics such as setting ground rules early in the collaboration, avoiding authorship disputes, and the sharing of materials and information with internal and external collaborating scientists.
6. Human subjects
Issues important in conducting research involving human subjects. Includes topics such as the definition of human subjects research, ethical principles for conducting human subjects research, informed consent, confidentiality and privacy of data and patient records, risks and benefits, preparation of a research protocol, institutional review boards, adherence to study protocol, proper conduct of the study, and gender, minority, and children's research issues.
For more information about human subjects protections at UMKC - please see Research Protections
7. Research involving animals
Issues important to conducting research involving animals. Includes topics such as definition of research involving animals, ethical principles for conducting research on animals, federal regulations governing animal research, institutional animal care and use committees, and treatment of animals.
For more information about animal use in research at UMKC - - please see Research Protections
8. Research misconduct
The meaning of research misconduct and the regulations, policies, and guidelines that govern research misconduct in PHS-funded institutions. Includes topics such as fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism; error vs. intentional misconduct; institutional misconduct policies; identifying misconduct; procedures for reporting misconduct; protection of whistleblowers; and outcomes of investigations, including institutional and federal actions.
Fabrication is making up results and recording or reporting them.
Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record.
Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit, including those obtained through confidential review of others' research proposals and manuscripts.
Research misconduct does not include honest error or honest differences of opinion.
Consistent with these guidelines, University of Missouri has in place a formal policy and set of procedures for investigating allegations of research dishonesty.
The policy may be accessed at http://system.missouri.edu/uminfo/rules/research/420020.htm. If you have any concerns of research dishonesty, please contact the Office of Dr. John Baumann, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research 816-235-1301.
9. Conflict of interest and commitment
The definition of conflicts of interest and how to handle conflicts of interest. Types of conflicts encountered by researchers and institutions. Includes topics such as conflicts associated with collaborators, publication, financial conflicts, obligations to other constituencies, and other types of conflicts.
Conflict of Interest (Financial) at UM
In order to deal with financial conflicts of interest and potential financial conflicts of interest and to ensure objectivity in research, the University of Missouri has in place a conflict of interest policy. The UM conflict of interest policy states that: University employees shall faithfully discharge their duties and shall refrain from knowingly engaging in any outside matters of financial interest incompatible with the impartial, objective and effective performance of their duties. They shall not realize personal gain in any form, which would influence improperly the conduct of their university duties. They shall not knowingly use university property, funds, position or power for personal or political gain. They shall inform their supervisor in writing of reasonable foreseen potential conflicts.
The policy is available through the following link: UM Policy: http://www.system.missouri.edu/uminfo/rules/personnel/330015.htm
General Financial Disclosure requirement at UMKC
In addition, UMKC has instituted policies that require that all key personnel on externally funded research and sponsored programs submit certifications either stating that they have no financial interests that may represent a potential conflict of interest or providing details of the financial interests that may represent a potential conflict of interest.
The policy and appropriate forms are available through the following links: General Financial Disclosure forms are available here in PDF. Once an award is made, key personnel should submit signed General Financial Disclosure forms to ORS (5211 Rockhill).I
f you have any concerns regarding conflict of interset, please contact Dr. John Baumann, Associate Vice Chancellor - Director, Office of Reserach Services, 816-235-1303.
10. Compliance with existing PHS and institutional policies
Identification and understanding of existing federal and local policies, methods of compliance, and consequences for not complying.