As a researcher, you will spend much of your time collecting data to confirm or reject hypotheses, to identify new areas of investigation, to guide the development of new investigative techniques and more. Science as we know and practice it today cannot exist without data.

Data management practices are becoming increasingly complex; you should address them before any data are collected, by taking into consideration four important issues: ownership, collection, storage and sharing.

The responsible researcher knows what constitutes data; how to keep data notebooks or electronic files; methods and guidelines for ensuring data privacy and confidentiality; procedures for selecting, retaining, sharing and analyzing data.

The integrity of data and, by implication, the usefulness of the research it supports, demands careful attention to detail, from initial planning through final publication.

Resources
NIH Final Statement on Sharing Research Data (February 26, 2003)
NIH Data Sharing Policy and Implementation Guidance (March 5, 2003)
NIH Frequently Asked Questions - Data Sharing

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The responsible researcher understands the responsibilities of an author, the nature of collaborative work, and how to assign appropriate credit, give acknowledgments, and use appropriate citations.

Base authorship credit on the degree to which authors have: 1) made substantial contributions to conception and design, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; 2) drafted the article or revised it critically for important intellectual content; and 3) final approval of the version to be published.

Avoid redundant publication (publication of a paper that overlaps substantially with one already published in print or electronic media); fragmented publication (intentional division of a coherent research report into smaller, publishable reports to create the (false) impression of extensive productivity; and under-reporting of research; scholars have a duty to (try to) publish results.

Be sure to cite all works referred to or relied on. Failure to note intellectual antecedents is a form of deception – although it might be necessary to make a judgment call about whether an antecedent is so well known or obvious so as to eliminate the need for citation. Over-citation of intellectual antecedents also can be wrong if it is done with the intent of giving a false impression of a project’s significance, gravitas or ancestry. Acknowledgments of intellectual or editorial assistance should appear in print only with that person’s permission. Such acknowledgments are usually the appropriate place to note the contributions of those whose contributions do not rise to the level of authorship.

Resources
Council of Science Editors Authorship Task Force
International Committee of Medical Journal Editors Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals

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The responsible researcher understands the importance of mentoring junior faculty, postdocs and graduate students; how to clearly define the roles of mentor and trainee and manage conflicts between mentor and trainee; and the consequences of misusing the mentor/trainee relationship.

The mentor-trainee relationship is complex and brings into play potential conflicts. How much time should each devote to the other? Who gets credit for ideas that take shape during the course of a shared experiment? Who owns the results? When does a trainee become an independent researcher?

Common sense suggests that good mentoring should begin with

• a clear understanding of mutual responsibilities
• a commitment to maintain a productive and supportive research environment
• proper supervision and review
• an understanding that the main purpose of the relationship is to prepare trainees to become successful researchers.

Knowing the importance of personal commitments, researchers should carefully consider what responsibilities they have to trainees before they take on the essential task of training new researchers. Trainees, in turn, should be well aware of their responsibilities to mentors before accepting a position in a laboratory or program.

Resources
Adviser, Teacher, Role Model, Friend
Mentoring Guide for Graduate Students at UNL
Mentoring Guide for Faculty at UNL
Mentoring Network

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The responsible researcher recognizes that research imperatives often transcend departmental and disciplinary borders and require collaborations across the disciplines, specializations, and institutional borders of departments, schools, and colleges.

However, collaboration often co-exists with contention and disagreement. Border-crossing invites vigorous intellectual disagreements that air out, test, and advance theory, method and practice. The responsible researcher sets ground rules early in the collaboration to avoid authorship disputes, communicate effectively across disciplines, and develop strategies for sharing materials and information with internal and external collaborators.

Resources
Society for Neuroscience: Guidelines: Responsible Conduct Regarding Scientific Communication
NIH - Sharing Biomedical Research Resources
AAAS Secrecy in Science Colloquium

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The responsible researcher knows that issues pertinent to conducting research involving human participants are especially critical. UNL's Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews all human subject research applications from UNL campus departments.

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Responsible researchers also take care to protect any non-human animals they use in their research. UNL's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) reviews all animal subject research applications from UNL campus departments.

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The responsible researcher is aware of what constitutes plagiarism; the difference between error and intentional misconduct; institutional misconduct policies; how to identify misconduct; procedures for reporting misconduct; protection of whistleblowers; outcomes of investigations, including institutional and federal actions.

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Responsible researchers understand the definition and types of research conflicts of interest and commitment by faculty, staff, students and the institution, and how to handle these research-related issues. See UNL's policy on managing conflicts of interest in research.

Resources
NIH Conflict of Interest Information Resources
AAMC Task Force on Financial Conflicts of Interest in Clinical Research

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Responsible researchers are aware of safety issues related to research, including radiation safety, safe laboratory procedures, biological safety and toxic waste handling.

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