“Integrity, trust, and respect are important values in an academic research environment. Investigators typically conduct research and scholarship and explain findings and theories with diligence, precision, and responsibility. However, misconduct threatens both to erode the public trust and to cast doubt on the credibility of all researchers. These procedures regarding research and scholarly misconduct are intended to protect the integrity of the University of Massachusetts Amherst research enterprise and not hinder the search for truth or interfere with the expansion of knowledge” (Sen. Doc No. 26-033).
Research Misconduct Defined
The Office of Research Integrity (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) defines Research Misconduct as the fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting results.
- Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them.
- Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results in such a way 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.
Research Misconduct does not include honest errors or differences of opinion.
Scholarly Misconduct Defined
Within the university’s Research and Scholarly Misconduct Policy (Sen. Doc. No. 26-033), Scholarly Misconduct refers to practices that seriously deviate from those that are commonly accepted within the scientific community for proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or reporting research results. It does not include honest errors in the recording, selection, or analysis of data or honest differences in interpretations or judgments of data.
UMass Amherst’s Policy and Procedure
To ensure compliance with the Public Health Service (PHS) 42 CFR Part 93, the National Science Foundation (NSF) 45 CFR Part 689, and any other relevant federal, state, or funding agencies, the UMass Board of Trustees established the Policy on the Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarly Activities (T08-010), as the guidance document for research integrity and research misconduct.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst Faculty Senate developed procedures to implement the board of trustee policy. These were recently updated in the university’s Research and Scholarly Misconduct Policy (Sen. Doc. No. 26-033).
Have a concern related to research and scholarly activities? Use our anonymous reporting line: