Please read the following information about research integrity, ethics and compliance at CDU.
CDU operates in accordance with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research. To find Research and Innovation Policies, Procedures and Guidelines see the Governance document library.
Research integrity advisors
The RIA’s can provide valuable advice on responsible research and the ethical design and conduct of human and animal research, on good practices and strategies to avoid research integrity problems/disputes, on whether a situation appears to be a breach/research misconduct, and about the University’s and integrity and ethics review arrangements.
RIA’s are not involved in the review, assessment or investigation of alleged breaches of the Australian Code and/or CDU policy but rather act in an advisory and support capacity to the CDU research community as well as contribute to the development of University policies and process and to the enhancement of practical resources and training.
CDU researchers, staff and students are encouraged to consult with RIA’s regarding matter related to responsible research conduct.
Research Integrity Advisors
Faculty of Science and Technology: Dr Erica Garci, Lecturer in Environmental Science
Faculty of Arts and Society: Dr Muhammad Saleem, Lecturer - Business
Sue Smith, Senior Lecturer in Education
Faculty of Health: Dr Kristy Logan, Lecturer - Speech and Language Therapy
Professor Phil Giffard, Professor - Medical Laboratory Science
General principles of responsible research
Institutions must
- promote the responsible conduct of research
- establish good governance and management practices
- train staff
- promote mentoring
- ensure a safe research environment.
Researchers must
- maintain high standards of responsible research
- report research responsibly
- respect research participants, animals used and the environment
- report research misconduct.
Contact ethics@cdu.edu.au for advice and support.
Management of research data and primary materials
Institutions must
- retain research data and primary materials
- provide secure research data storage and record-keeping facilities
- identify ownership of research data and primary materials
- ensure security and confidentiality of research data and primary materials
Researchers must
- retain research data and primary materials
- manage storage of research data and primary materials
- maintain the confidentiality of research data and primary materials
Refer to LibGuides or contact library@cdu.edu.au for advice and support.
Supervision of research trainees
- Higher Degree by Research - Supervision Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy
- Code of Conduct - Students
- Complaints Policy - Students
Institutions must
- set standards for supervision and mentorship
- induct research trainees.
CDU delivers a range of research staff, supervisor and student development programs annually.
Programs for the current year can be located on the Research Enhancement Program webpage.
Researchers and HDR Supervisors must
- ensure training
- mentor and provide support
- ensure valid and accurate research
- ensure appropriate attribution.
Research trainees must
- seek guidance
- undertake induction and training.
Refer to the HDR Webpage or contact researchstudents@cdu.edu.au for advice and support.
Publication and dissemination of research findings
Institutions must
- promote responsible publication and dissemination of research findings
- protect confidentiality and manage intellectual property
- support communication to the wider public.
Researchers must
- disseminate all research findings
- ensure the accuracy of publication and dissemination
- cite the work of other authors fully and accurately
- disclose multiple submissions of research findings
- obtain permission for republishing
- disclose research support accurately
- register clinical trials
- manage confidentiality
- responsibly communicate research findings in the public arena.
Authorship
Institutions must
- have criteria for authorship.
Researchers must
- follow policies on authorship
- agree on authorship
- include all authors
- not allow unacceptable inclusions of authorship
- acknowledge other contributions fairly
- extend the authorship policy to web-based publications
- maintain signed acknowledgements of authorship for all publications.
Peer review
Institutions must
- encourage participation in peer review.
Peer Reviewers must
- conduct peer review responsibly.
Researchers must
- not interfere during the peer review process
- participate in peer review
- mentor trainees in peer review
- declare conflicts of interest
Refer to the LibGuides or contact Library@cdu.edu.au for advice and support.
Conflict of interest
Institutions must
- maintain a policy.
Researchers must
- disclose conflicts of interest according to the Conflicts of Interest Policy.
Collaborative research across institutions
Institutions must
- establish agreements for each collaboration
- manage conflicts of interest
- manage access to research materials.
Contact rgbd@cdu.edu.au for advice and support in the development and execution of Collaborative Research Agreements.
Researchers must
- comply with multi-institutional agreements
- declare conflicts of interest.
Breaches of the code, research misconduct and complaints
Institutions must
- promote the responsible conduct of research
- establish good governance and management practices
- train staff
- promote mentoring
- ensure a safe research environment.
Researchers must
- maintain high standards of responsible research
- report research responsibly
- respect research participants, animals used and the environment
- report research misconduct.
To report a potential breach of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, or CDU policy, please contact Steve Rogers, Deputy Vice-Chancellor.