What is research misconduct?

The Research Council UK definition of research misconduct is fabrication, falsification, plagiarism or other serious deviations from commonly accepted practices in research for proposing, performing, reviewing, or reporting research results.

  • Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them.
  • Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record.
  • Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit.
  • Other serious deviations may include:
    • Misrepresentation of data and/or interests and or involvement;
    • Failure to follow accepted procedures or to exercise due care in carrying out responsibilities for:
      • Avoiding unreasonable risk or harm to humans; animals or the environment;
      • the proper handling of privileged or private information on individuals collected during the research

 

How to Raise a Concern

Research misconduct queries and concerns are dealt with at an institutional level. Our procedure to deal with such allegations have been developed in line with guidance issued by the UK Research Integrity Office

Staff, students or any external individuals or organisations wishing to raise a concern about the integrity of the research conducted at Swansea University can do so, in writing, with supporting evidence to the Pro Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation) or the University Research Integrity Manager by using the confidential and dedicated research misconduct email address: researchmisconduct@swansea.ac.uk 

Pro Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation): Professor Helen Griffiths

Research Integrity Manager: Mrs Anjana Choudhuri 

Research Misconduct email: researchmisconduct@swansea.ac.uk