Scientists are responsible for the quality of the research they carry out and the reliability of the knowledge they disseminate. They also consider it useful to be directly involved in the way their work is used for new applications.
For example, responsible researchers must neither cheat nor agree to disseminate truncated results.
From the astrolabe of responsible research, you can find out what LORIER and other organisations are doing to improve the quality and reliability of research, both in terms of scientific methods and in terms of social relevance and democratic openness.
Responsibilities include
- integrity and compliance with legislative and regulatory rules
- the use of appropriate methods
- conservation of raw data
- rapid and open communication of data and results (open science)
- publication and acknowledgement in accordance with the ethical rules governing contributors
- fair, rigorous and timely peer review
- declaring links of interest and taking account of conflicts of interest
- communication with the public
- reporting breaches of integrity
Responsible research : guaranteeing the reliability, reproducibility and validity of the information provided
To guarantee the reliability of methods and tools and the robustness of data, validated methodologies for the qualification of equipment and the metrological verification of measuring equipment should be used. To avoid the risk of unreliable results, the critical stages of a study should be systematically identified. It is recommended that the person in charge of the research activity ensures that the people involved are competent in all the methods used. This expertise may also be provided by a dedicated unit within the laboratory, or may be outsourced.
Data and information must be traceable so that the reality of the measurements taken, the context and the validity of the interpretations can be proven at any time, even long after a study has been carried out. Similarly, the archiving of data and activity parameters must be secure and of sufficient duration, in accordance with the procedures defined and followed by the various stakeholders.
In order to control the impact of our activities in terms of sustainable development, we need to put in place an organisation capable of making research activities economically efficient, socially equitable and ecologically viable, with the aim of respecting the environment and preventing the depletion of natural resources for future generations. These principles must be an integral part of every new project and every stage of the project.
