Responsible Conduct of Research

Responsible conduct of research (RCR) includes most of the professional activities that are part and parcel of a research career. As defined by federal agencies, RCR encompasses the following nine areas:

1. Collaborative Science
   Collaborations take place in a variety of forms, including the borrowing and lending of supplies, resources and equipment between researchers; seeking input from an expert in a different discipline; and partnering with colleagues who have a similar background or field of knowledge for fresh ideas and abilities.

2. Conflicts of Interest and Commitments
   Conflicts of interests or commitments are not inherently negative; rather, the way in which the conflict is managed is important.

3. Data Acquisition, Management, Sharing and Ownership
   This site is designed as a central location for viewing and retrieving shared data archives relevant to psychological science.

4. Human Research Protections
   Research with human participants plays a central role in advancing knowledge in the biomedical, behavioral and social sciences.

5. Lab Animal Welfare
   APA has and continues to support efforts to improve laboratory animal welfare through the implementation of policies and regulations that both maintain the integrity of scientific research and sustain the welfare of such animals.

6. Mentoring
   Mentoring a less-experienced researcher is a professional responsibility of all scientists. The ultimate goal of the mentor is to establish the trainee as an independent researcher.

7. Peer Review
   Positive peer reviews contribute to increased funding opportunities, academic advancement and a good reputation.

8. Publications Practices and Responsible Authorship
   Although researchers can disseminate their findings through many different avenues, results are most likely to be published as an article in a scholarly journal.

9. Research Misconduct
   Institutions should have procedures in place to investigate and when appropriate report findings of misconduct to the Office of Research Integrity (ORI). They should also have policies that protect both whistleblowers and the accused until a determination is made.