---------- Forwarded message begins here ---------- Date: Mon, 9 Oct 1995 09:56:38 -0400 (EDT) From: Jessie Barbour Ramey X-Andrew-Message-Size: 5492+0 To: RBBs Subject: Integrity in Your Research Integrity in Your Undergraduate Research Experience --------------------------------------------------- (this is the text from a flyer available from the Undergraduate Research Initiative office) The Undergraduate Research Initiative expects participants to conduct themselves with the same integrity and high standards of conduct expected of all members of the Carnegie Mellon community. No matter what the subject, research must be honest, fully open when communicating to peers and the public, cautious when stating results, accurate when reporting methods, and certain that no harm comes to individuals. The university will not tolerate academic or financial fraud in any form including fabrication or falsification of data or attendance records; theft of materials, supplies, or ideas; plagiarism; or deliberate interference with the integrity of the work of others. Students are urged to meet with their faculty advisors to discuss issues of data handling, research practices, laboratory rules, etc., and to share expectations regarding records and reporting of time spent on the project. Carnegie Mellon is an extraordinarily diverse community and the ability to work with others is exceptionally important. Harassment, which is defined as verbal or physical conduct with the intent or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual~s or group~s educational or work environment, is unacceptable. Any instances of alleged harassment, fraud, and other violations may be referred to appropriate department and/or college channels for disciplinary action. Students who are concerned about improper or unethical behaviour~or who may have observed it~are encouraged to consult with the relevant faculty advisor, department head, associate dean, or Undergraduate Research Initiative staff. Getting Started... ------------------ o Define your research plan and understand the objectives of your research, particularly if you are joining an established project. o Find out what conventions or rules apply to your field of research. Note that these may differ from those that apply to other types of research or disciplines. o Find out who will assume responsibility for your supervision (including who signs your timecard) in the absence of your faculty advisor. o Establish regular meeting times with your faculty advisor so you have the opportunity to discuss issues as they arise. o Clarify which charges to a research account are allowable and which are not. o Clarify who will retain custody of primary, original data, whether it is gathered in the field or in the laboratory. o Develop an accounting system to track any grant money awarded to you for your project. For further information on tracking Small Undergraduate Research Grant (SURG) awards, refer to the ~Funding Guidelines~ agreement available from the Undergraduate Research Initiative. o Share this pamphlet with your faculty advisor. Conducting Your Research... --------------------------- o Retain primary, original data, no matter how rough its form. Clarify any confidentiality issues with your advisor. Colleagues or other readers of published results may raise questions answerable only by referring to such data. o Make sure that you are able to replicate any and all original data and experiments before proceeding to a subsequent step in your research (usually the analysis and conclusion). o Discuss with your faculty advisor what you perceive as inconsistent and/or inconclusive data in your work. o Review issues with your faculty advisor that may pertain to your project such as environmental health and safety codes, care of laboratory animals, patents and copyrights, human subjects regulations, etc. o If you will be working with human subjects during the course of your research (this may include surveys, data collection, interviews, and product trials on human subjects) you must meet certain guidelines. Contact Evelyn Brnilovich in the office of the Associate Provost for Research and Academic Administration at x8-8746 if you have any questions or if your work will involve human subjects. Writing Your Results... ----------------------- o Clarify the criteria used for authorship of manuscripts if you are working in a research group. o When you are writing a manuscript with multiple authors, verify what part of the manuscript falls within your jurisdiction. Make certain one of the authors is designated as the party responsible for the entire manuscript. o Give proper acknowledgment of each of your sources, whether these are articles, books, or conversations. Talk with your research supervisor about quoting and/or paraphrasing sources of information. o Acknowledge any research grants in your publications. You should also include the following statement: ~This paper represents the views of the author[s] and not those of Carnegie Mellon University.~ Keep in Mind... --------------- o Learn from your mistakes; they are often the most valuable experiences in your education. o Ask your supervisor or advisor when you are unsure, even in the slightest, about an issue in your research project. It is better to ask too many questions than not to ask enough. o Never forget that you are searching for the truth, no matter how elusive. This flyer was adapted from "What to Do or Not to Do: Integrity in Your UROP Experience," published by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program at MIT. Many thanks to Norma McGavern. July, 1995.