Research ethics
The University of Gothenburg values research quality, integrity, and independence, which requires that research is conducted in accordance with good research practice. The responsibility for this lies with both the leadership and individual researchers.
Good research practice
The field of research ethics is regulated by laws, ethical codes, and other regulations. All research must be conducted in accordance with good research practice, which is described as the collective ethical requirements for how to conduct good research.
The publication "The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity", issued by All European Academies (ALLEA), expresses fundamental principles on which good research practice is based. These principles provide researchers with guidance on practical, ethical, and intellectual challenges associated with research and are expressed as follows:
- Reliability in ensuring the quality of research, reflected in design, methodology, analysis, and use of resources.
- Honesty in developing, undertaking, reviewing, reporting, and communicating research in a transparent, fair, full, and unbiased way.
- Respect for colleagues, research participants, research subjects, society, ecosystems, cultural heritage, and the environment.
- Accountability for the research from idea to publication, for its management and organization, for training, supervision, and mentoring, and for its wider societal impacts.
Research Involving Humans
Research involving humans or the processing of personal data may be subject to ethical review requirements under the Swedish Ethical Review Act (EPL, SFS 2003:460). Ethical reviews are conducted by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (EPM).
Research Involving Animals
A significant portion of medical research is conducted in vitro or using cell cultivation techniques. As far as possible, animal experiments are avoided. However, there is research where animal experiments are necessary and can provide better diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Research involving animals is regulated by the Animal Welfare Act (2018:1192).
Ethics Work and Support at the University of Gothenburg
The Research Board's Committee for Ethics in Research
The committee was established by the Vice-Chancellor in March 2021 and has overarching responsibility for providing support to researchers and leadership on issues concerning research ethics. The committee also functions as the University of Gothenburg's Institutional Review Board concerning projects funded by U.S. federal funds.
The officer in the committee answers questions regarding ethical review, good research practice, requirements from research funders, and research collaborations.
Members of the Research Board's Committee for Ethics in Research
- Max Petzold, Vice-Chancellor for Digitalization and Utilization (Chair)
- Ylva Hård af Segerstad, Department of Applied IT
- Elisabeth Hjort, HDK-Valand
- Maja Cederberg, Department of Sociology and Work Science
- Christian Munthe, Department of Philosophy, Linguistics, and Theory of Science
- Katarina Nordblom, Department of Economics with Statistics
- Per-Anders Jansson, Department of Medicine
- Anna Zettergren, Officer in the Committee
Ethics Councils at Faculty Level
The Sahlgrenska Academy's Council for Research Ethics (FER)
The council is tasked with promoting ethical conduct in all research at the Sahlgrenska Academy by, for instance, supporting faculty leadership, organizing seminars, and assisting in research ethics education. It also collaborates with the Research Support Division to address questions on research ethics.
The Faculty of Education's Ethics Council
The council's mission is to promote knowledge development and increase understanding in the field of ethics, contributing to a dynamic and enduring ethical culture within the faculty. It also offers overarching advice and guidance to individual research projects and doctoral work regarding research ethical dilemmas, with the aim of creating a common guidance material.
Research Misconduct
Research misconduct refers to serious deviations from good research practice, such as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism, committed intentionally or through gross negligence during the planning, execution, or reporting of research. Since January 1, 2020, issues of research misconduct are governed by the "Act on Responsibility for Good Research Practice and the Examination of Research Misconduct" (2019:504).
Other deviations from good research practice include self-plagiarism, withholding research results, abuse of superior positions, and lack of necessary permits.
The Board for Examination of Research Misconduct (Npof) is a government agency that examines issues of research misconduct. At the University of Gothenburg, the Council for Examining Deviations from Good Research Practice supports the Vice-Chancellor in addressing deviations and deciding which reports concern suspected misconduct and should therefore be forwarded to Npof. Deviations from good research practice that do not constitute misconduct are investigated by the council itself.
Suspicions of deviations from good research practice at the University of Gothenburg are reported to the Vice-Chancellor.