Research Integrity and Misconduct

What is Research Misconduct?

Research misconduct is defined as fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or other serious deviation from commonly accepted practices in the relevant scientific community for proposing, performing or reviewing research, or in reporting research results. Research misconduct does not include honest error, differences in opinion, or authorship disputes.

Examples include:

• 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 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.
• Serious deviation from accepted practices includes but is not limited to:
  • Abusing confidentiality, including the use of ideas and preliminary data gained from:
    • Access to privileged information through the opportunity for editorial review of manuscripts submitted to journals; and
    • Peer review of proposals being considered for funding by agency panels or by internal committees, such as the Institutional Review Board (IRB), the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and the University Research Grants Committee.
  • Stealing, destroying, or damaging the research property of others with the intent to alter the research record; and
  • Directing, encouraging, or knowingly allowing others to engage in fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism.

Reporting Possible Research Integrity or Misconduct

The Research Integrity Officer (RIO) is responsible for assessing allegations to determine whether they fall within the definition of research misconduct and whether the allegation is sufficiently credible and specific to warrant an investigation. The RIO also oversees inquiries and investigations, including appointing expert members to inquiry and investigation committees. For more information, review Executive Policy 33: Responding to Allegations of Research Misconduct.

Concerns about possible research integrity and misconduct should be submitted to: research.misconduct@wsu.edu or 509-335-5238.

Additional Policies and Information

Executive Policy 27: University Research Personnel Conflict of Interest, Technology Transfer, and State Ethics Requirements promotes integrity and objectivity in University research, including research funded by federal grants or cooperative agreements.

The University recognizes that outside financial interests can facilitate opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and support. To ensure that its reputation and research programs are not compromised by even an appearance of inattention to financial conflicts of interest (COI), review the Washington State University COI policies — consistent with federal guidelines — that require the reporting and management of the potential conflicts of interest of its faculty, administrators, and staff.

As employees of the state of Washington, WSU personnel must comply with the ethical requirements imposed by state law, federal law, and WSU policy. For additional information, consult the University Policies and Rules, particularly those found in the Business Policies and Procedures Manual maintained by the Office of Procedures, Records, and Forms.

Washington State University faculty members are state employees and are subject to the ethics law and rules, as well as Washington State University ethics policies. Additionally, faculty members have obligations that derive from membership in the academic community. The WSU Faculty Manual contains the Faculty Code of Professional Ethics, which states the expected standard of performance. Adherence to the Faculty Code of Professional Ethics, Faculty Manual section II.C.1, and to the Conduct Regulations, Faculty Manual section II.F.3, is the responsibility of the individual faculty member.

Contacts

Michael P. Wolcott
Research Integrity Officer, WSU
Interim Vice President for Research, WSU
Regents Professor
509-335-5532 (W)

J. Levi O’Loughlin
Deputy Research Integrity Officer, WSU
Associate Director, WSU
University Biosafety Officer
509-335-1585 (W)

Emily Vander Zanden
Research Integrity Manager, WSU
509-335-5238 (W)