Abstract
The commercialization of research and the ever changing scientific environment has led scholars to shift the focus from promoting research integrity to regulating misconduct. As a result, most literature explains research integrity in terms of avoidance of misconduct. The purpose of the paper is to stimulate reflection and discussion on research integrity and research misconduct. This article explores the meaning of research integrity and research misconduct, and how research integrity can be promoted to ensure safer research and scholarship. We believe that the discussion can help clarify some hazy areas in the research and publication processes, and appreciate some crucial aspects that they may have seen taken for granted. The purpose of this article is to share with the readers some clarification or analysis of the two concepts namely: research integrity and misconduct. The objectives are: (1) To explore and analyse the concepts of research integrity and research misconduct from the educational or developmental perspective and not the legal perspective as others in literature have done. (2) To stimulate the reflection and discussion on strategies to promote research integrity and thus prevent research misconduct Literature review and concept analysis was undertaken to clarify the two concepts. We argue that the two concepts can be viewed along a continuum, i.e. where research integrity ends, research misconduct starts. We also argue that it is the responsibility of the research community at large to always ensure that the scientific ethics balance is maintained throughout the research process to ensure research integrity and avoid research misconduct. We also argue that research integrity is interlinked with morality while misconduct is interlinked with immorality.
Highlights
IntroductionResearchers in higher education environm ents are continuously threatened with the “publish or perish” statements
Background to the problemResearchers in higher education environm ents are continuously threatened with the “publish or perish” statements
We argue that the two concepts can be viewed along a continuum, i.e. where research integrity ends, research misconduct starts
Summary
Researchers in higher education environm ents are continuously threatened with the “publish or perish” statements. It has been observed that in their pursuit of this, some have resorted to short cuts. The higher education research authorities find them selves having to m onitor and regulate research misconduct at the expense of promoting research integrity. We may be exploring some short cuts, but the bottom line is: we all want to do it right and to do the right thing. How do we proceed safely in this race so that our research findings can be trusted, further developed by others and im plem ented for the improvement of nursing care? Higher Education Institutions as knowledge production sites have all developed policies and guidelines on Research Ethics. The authors through this article will attempt to highlight and clarify the significance use and application of the two concepts
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