Research integrity
Research is a collective activity that is based on collaboration between members of the research community and the freedom to define research topics and methods. Ideally, it develops independently of ideological, economic, and political interests.
It is therefore essential that researchers master the knowledge, methodologies, and ethical practices of their sector to avoid violating their professional responsibilities. Such a violation can in fact harm the research process, compromising relationships between researchers, undermining trust in research, wasting resources, and exposing not only those who do research, but also society and the environment, to avoidable damage.
With the aim of contributing to researchers’ assumption of responsibility and, at the same time, offering the scientific community a self-regulation framework, in 2017 the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ALLEA) was published. This code contains the values and principles that regulate all research sectors. Their application, as well as compliance with ethical duties and professional standards, is intended to guarantee quality and trust in research, with important implications for its development and for society.
In terms of integrity, good practices are important for researchers but also the institutions where they work. These institutions must promote a culture that encourages integrity in all phases of research (from planning to dissemination of results), as well as in the management and recruitment of personnel.
Organizations and research institutes are required to define clear policies and procedures for adequate and transparent management in the evaluation of people, projects and publications, in relationships with colleagues and institutions, and in cases of improper, questionable, and/or irresponsible conduct.
To this end, UniTo not only refers to the Codes of Conduct adopted nationally but has also developed, over time, University regulations aimed at regulating these aspects: the Code of Conduct of the University of Turin, the Disciplinary Code and the Code of Ethics of the university community.