Research Ethics
The moral principles governing the conduct of research, including informed consent, data integrity, plagiarism prevention, and responsible use of human/animal subjects.
Research ethics encompasses the principles, regulations, and institutional mechanisms that ensure academic research is conducted responsibly, honestly, and with respect for human dignity. Universities maintain Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) or Ethics Committees that review all research involving human subjects. Key principles include informed consent, data integrity, proper attribution, conflict of interest disclosure, and responsible conduct of research. Violations — including fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism — can result in paper retraction, loss of funding, and termination of academic positions.
Related Terms
Related Guides
Research Ethics and Integrity
Why research ethics matter and how universities maintain integrity — from IRBs to plagiarism detection and retraction.
The Reproducibility Crisis in Research
Why many published findings can't be replicated and what universities are doing to improve research reliability.