Research Integrity
Edinburgh Napier University is committed to providing an environment
that recognises and supports research excellence.
Research should be conducted to the highest levels of integrity,
including appropriate research design and frameworks, to ensure that
findings are robust and defensible. Researchers should also adhere to
the highest level of research ethics, in line with requirements set out
by national and international regulatory bodies.
All staff and students should be familiar with the Universities
Policies and procedures that govern the research process.
In addition, the university expects researchers to observe the
standards and practice set out in any regulation and guidelines
published by funders and relevant professional bodies.
In keeping in with this commitment, Edinburgh Napier operates a code
of practice. The Edinburgh Napier University Code of Practice on
Research Integrity defines the research principles and practices to
which all students and staff at the University must adhere.
The Code should be read by all University staff and registered
students who are conducting, or planning to conduct, research of any
type which must be appropriately governed. Ethical issues also come into
play wherever research involves human participants, personal data and
human tissue. The Code also applies to any research partners who may be
conducting research on Edinburgh Napier University premises.
Code of Practice on Research Integrity (full document)
Document sections:
Below are two examples of generic forms for informed consent that illustrate the type of information often required (for
illustration only):
The University Research Integrity Committee
The University Research Integrity Committee oversees governance policies, procedures and practices across the University.
Please contact the clerk should you have a query or issue concerning research Integrity.
Approval for ethics applications is devolved to school level. For more information regarding procedures related to your associated school, please contact your School Research Integrity Lead:
Business School: Dr Matthew Dutton, M.Dutton@napier.ac.uk
SAS: Dr Rory Maclean, R.Maclean@napier.ac.uk
SH&SC: Dr Anne Rowat, A.Rowat@napier.ac.uk
SOC: Dr Phil Turner, P.Turner@napier.ac.uk
SACI: Dr Alistair Duff, A.Duff@napier.ac.uk
SEBE: Dr Andrew Smith, A.Smith7@napier.ac.uk
Cross University Ethical Approval: Alisdair Stapley, a.stapley@napier.ac.uk
University Research Misconduct Policy
The University Research Integrity Committee has an agreed policy on Research Misconduct. This document outlines good research practice, unacceptable research conduct, and explains how preliminary investigations into allegations of research conduct should be investigated.
All members of the University are under a general obligation to preserve and protect the integrity and probity of research; in particular, if they have good reason to suspect any research misconduct in research, they should report their suspicions in accordance with this policy to the Clerk of the University Research Integrity Committee.
If you are a member of the Educational Institute for Scotland (EIS) or UNISON, you can receive support and advice from a trade union representative.
Cross University Ethical Approval Process
To allow an effective means to deal with the increasing number of applications that are carrying out research across the university or where the applicant is the from Professional Services a Cross University Approval process has been approved and implemented by the University Research Integrity Committee.
Research wholly based in one school still requires to gain ethical approval from the School Research Integrity Committees and follow the procedure identified by the School Research Integrity Lead.
The Procedure for cross-university research is a ‘triage’ system based on risk ensuring special consideration is given to medical/invasive work, vulnerable groups, or research involving staff and students within Edinburgh Napier University.
The three tier Cross-University Ethical Approval Form has been established starting with a self-assessment to establish level of risk and guidance on level of scrutiny required for the research project.
Please submit completed forms to Alisdair Stapley, clerk to the University Research Integrity Committee.
The application will be reviewed by two reviewers drawn from a panel of reviewers created from a pool of academics with expertise in ethics, subject areas and/or methodology, e.g. Convenors of School Research Integrity Committees, School Gatekeepers, and members of Research Integrity Committee.
Timescale
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Action
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Timescale
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Comments
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Application to be reviewed
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2 weeks
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Resubmission
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Within 2 weeks
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Changes to be highlighted by applicant
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Final Approval
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Within 1 week
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Overall time scale for Approval
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3-4 weeks
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