KARACHI:
To maintain research integrity, academic researchers hold truthfulness and conviction in high regard. Research integrity is crucial for creating and maintaining public trust. If an institution’s leadership fails to offer proper logistical support for research, researchers are compelled to demand financial assistance from funding organisations and the public. To accomplish this, the support from the parent institution and between and within academic institutions plays a significant role. In many cases, it leads to financial support from non-actors leading to promotional stunts and reputational damage.
An institution’s reputation as a premier research institution is built on high-quality research, which is conducted ethically. It also involves scrupulousness and fair-mindedness in suggesting and executing the research project. Accuracy, avoiding falsified reporting, and fair peer review are prioritised. Although the use of resources and collaboration among academic researchers are important, guest ownership and decisions on behalf of the researcher are highly objectionable. To maintain research integrity, it is also important to distribute responsibilities equally between mentors and trainees to avoid a conflict of interest.
Often academics are found violating research protocols and engaging in misconduct through plagiarism, etc. Research misconduct threatens the educational environment, faculty, students, and ultimately the progress and development of any nation. Countries with strong and ethical research departments enjoy good educational standards, innovation, and development. Therefore, the relevant authorities must ensure that educational institutes are training researchers and upholding protocols for research. They must remain vigilant and hold any other stakeholders accountable if research integrity is compromised at any point.
Dr Intikhab Ulfat
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, July 26th, 2022.
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