What does 'research integrity' refer to?

Research integrity refers to the adherence to ethical principles and standards throughout the research process. This includes ensuring honesty, accountability, and transparency in conducting and reporting research. Researchers are expected to engage in practices that promote trustworthiness, such as avoiding fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism. Upholding research integrity is essential for the credibility of the research as it fosters public confidence in the findings, supports the advancement of knowledge, and encourages responsible conduct in the academic and scientific community.

While there are various aspects of research methodologies and collaborations, they do not directly define research integrity. For instance, focusing on quantitative over qualitative methods or relying exclusively on peer-reviewed articles does not capture the ethical dimensions inherent in research integrity. Similarly, avoiding collaborations with other researchers may even undermine the integrity of research by limiting diverse input and review.