Skip to Main Content

University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Research & Publication in Medicine & Health

Research Integrity & Ethics at Illinois

Research Ethics Basics

Research Ethics from NIH Bookshelf

Best Practices Checklist for Researchers

Research Integrity

  • Maintain high standards in own work.
  • Understand policies.
  • Raise questions and problems promptly and professionally.
  • Strive to be a generous and collegial colleague.

Data Handling

  • Develop data management and sharing plan at the outset of a project.
  • Incorporate appropriate data management expertise in the project team.
  • Understand and follow data collection, management, and sharing standards, policies, and regulations of the discipline, institution, funder, journal, and relevant government agencies.

Authorship and Communication

  • Ensure that general and disciplinary standards are followed for research publications.
  • Acknowledge the roles and contributions of authors.
  • Be transparent when communicating with all audiences.

Mentoring and Supervision

  • Model and instruct on research best practices.
  • Regularly check work of subordinates and ensure adherence to best practices.
  • Clarify expectations..

Peer Review

  • Provide complete and timely review.
  • Maintain confidentiality.
  • Disclose conflicts, and eliminate or manage them as appropriate.

Research Compliance

  • Protect human subjects and laboratory animals.
  • Follow environmental and other safety regulations.
  • Do not engage in misuse.
  • Disclose and manage conflicts of interest.

From: 9, Identifying and Promoting Best Practices for Research Integrity

Cover of Fostering Integrity in Research
Fostering Integrity in Research.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Policy and Global Affairs; Committee on Science, Engineering, Medicine, and Public Policy; Committee on Responsible Science.
Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2017 Apr 11.