RCR Topics

Data acquisition, management, sharing, and ownership [Office of Research Integrity (ORI) definition]
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 or electronic files; data privacy and confidentiality; data selection, retention, ownership, and analysis; data as legal documents and intellectual property, including copyright laws.

Mentor/trainee relationships (ORI definition)
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.

Publication practices and responsible authorship (ORI definition)
The purpose and importance of scientific publication, and the responsibilities of authors. Includes topics such as collaborative work and assigning appropriate credit, acknowledgments, appropriate citations, repetitive publications, fragmentary publication, sufficient description of methods, corrections and retractions, conventions for deciding up on authors, author responsibilities, and the pressure to publish.

Peer review (ORI definition)
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.

Collaborative science (ORI definition)
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 researchers.

Human participants (ORI definition)
Issues important in conducting research involving human participants. Includes topics such as the definition of human participant research, ethical principles for conducting human participant 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 special protections for targeted populations, e.g., children, minorities, and the elderly.

Research involving animals (ORI definition)
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.

Research misconduct (ORI definition)
The meaning of research misconduct and the regulations, policies, and guidelines that govern research misconduct. 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.

Conflict of interest and commitment (ORI definition)
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.

Intellectual property
Issues important to managing, protecting, and licensing the intellectual property of researchers and the University. Includes topics such as types of intellectual property, ownership of intellectual property, faculty and student rights to intellectual property, resources for patenting and licensing intellectual property, and intellectual property issues related to consulting and entrepreneurial activities.

Fiscal responsibility
Managing project budgets and effort responsibly. Topics include effectively managing research-appropriated funds, complying with terms and conditions of a financial sponsor, ensuring necessary budgetary approvals, purchasing and travel policies, and effort assignments and certifications.

Research with hazardous materials
Issues important to conducting research in a manner that promotes safety of researchers, research participants, and the environment. Topics include obtaining appropriate approvals for use, ensuring adequate training, maintaining necessary inspections and certifications, properly disposing of hazardous materials, and University resources for ensuring safety and compliance.