Code Of Conduct

Code of conduct in research
Disclosure of potential conflict of interest
Health and safety
Misconduct in research
Data storage

Code Of Conduct In Research

It is a basic assumption that researchers are committed to the highest standards of professional conduct when undertaking and supervising research. They have a duty to maintain the highest standards of probity in research applicable to their discipline and to the good standing of the University. Researchers in this context are University staff members and postgraduate students.

These standards include:

rigorous opposition to all forms of fraud, including misrepresentation and falsification of results
observance of the highest standards of safety in relation to themselves, their co-workers and research participants
maintenance of confidentiality where appropriate and full attribution of the sources of assistance and guidance
acknowledgement of authorship of all published material.

Researchers should participate only in work which conforms to agreed ethical standards (see here) and which they are competent to perform.

Disclosure Of Pontential Conflict Of Interest

Disclosure of any potential conflict of interest is essential for the responsible conduct of research. Such disclosure must be made to the relevant authorities which will include a funding or sponsoring agency and the chairperson of the relevant department or research centre of the University. Any such declarations to outside organizations should be made through the UNIlink Office and will require the approval of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

Health And Safety

Institutions and research workers have a responsibility to ensure the safety of all those associated with research. Staff should ensure that all research workers and candidates under their supervision are aware of the relevant codes and policies on health and safety, and receive appropriate instruction and information of such codes and policies.

Misconduct In Research

Misconduct in Research
Fabrication of data	by claiming results where none have been obtained
Falsification of data	by changing records or falsely claiming the use of techniques, methods or levels of precision
Plagiarism	including the direct copying of handwritten, typed, printed or published text or notation; use of other people's data, arguments or literature reviews without appropriate acknowledgement or permission; and deliberate use of published or unpublished ideas from other people without adequate attribution or permission for such use
Misleading ascription of authorship	including listing of authors without their permission where this is relevant, attributing work to others who have not contributed to the research, and failing to acknowledge work primarily produced by a postgraduate student, trainee or associate
Other practices that deviate from those accepted within the research community	for proposing, conducting or reporting research, such as intentional infringement of the University's code of ethical behaviour.
Misconduct does not include honest error or honest difference in the interpretation or judgement of data.
Procedures for dealing with misconduct in research are set out in detail in the "Handbook for Research and Outside Professional Activities" available to University of Waikato staff on the website or from the UNILink or Postgraduate Studies Office and departmental offices.

Data Storage

Data Storage
Confidentiality	If data or materials of a confidential nature are obtained by staff or postgraduate students in the course of their research, full confidentiality must be observed.
Personal, commercial advantage	The data or material must not be used for personal or commercial advantage or given to a third party for that person's commercial advantage except with the specific consent of the person or agency providing the data or material.
Contract	If research is undertaken by the University under contract to an outside body, the obligations of the contract governing that research must be fully observed.
Archiving	Original data should be archived for 5 years after publication or completion of the thesis for possible future scrutiny. Staff and candidates are required to retain their field and laboratory notebooks and other records of their research for the same period.
Space	The University is responsible for providing data storage space, and each department should decide on an appropriate policy for the storage of records.
Copies	Individual researchers are entitled to hold copies of the data.
Security & Access	Special provision must be made for the security and access if data includes information about individuals who may be identifiable, either directly or through a key to code numbers.
Practices in this regard must conform to the principles of the Privacy Act 1993 and to any codes of practice adopted by the Privacy Commissioner http://quality.waikato.ac.nz/quality/privacy.shtml.