SAN DIEGO: OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR
March 18, 1996
ALL UCSD EMPLOYEES
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS
GRADUATE AND MEDICAL STUDENTS
VISITING SCHOLARS
SUBJECT: Integrity of Research
Integrity of the research enterprise is central to the search for new knowledge. All individuals engaged in research at the University of California, San Diego, are responsible for adhering to high standards of intellectual honesty. Faculty and supervisors of research personnel (including graduate students and postdoctoral scholars) have a special obligation to set an example and create an environment that encourages intellectual integrity. Open communication, an emphasis on quality of research and publications, appropriate supervision of personnel, maintenance of accurate and detailed records of research procedures and results, and suitable assignment of credit and responsibility for research and publications are all elements of intellectual honesty.
The most serious forms of research misconduct are fabrication (creating fictitious data or results), falsification (altering data or results including selective mission of data without scientific or scholarly justification), plagiarism (using the words or ideas of others without acknowledgment and passing them off as one's own), or other deliberate misrepresentation in proposing, conducting, or reporting research.
Less serious research misconduct denotes other deviations from good research practices, Including but not limited to failure to provide appropriate citations, refusal to give peers reasonable access to unique research materials or data that support published papers, use of inappropriate statistical or other methods of measurement to enhance the significance of research findings, grossly inadequate supervision of research subordinates, and abuse of confidentiality,. Misconduct does not include simple negligence, honest error, or honest interpretations or judgments of data that differ from those of others.
It is the responsibility of each individual engaged in research (employees, student., postdoctorates, visiting scholars, and contractors) at UCSD and its affiliated institutions to be informed of and adhere to University, campus, and department policies relating to research and of the policies and procedures of the agencies funding his or her research. UCSD's Policy On Integrity of Research and Procedures for Handling Allegations of Research Misconduct and related policies are available on the World Wide Web at http://www-ogsr.ucsd.edu/research.html, on Info Path in the Academic Resources menu (select "Graduate Studies and Research", then proceed to "Research Information and Policies"), and on paper in administrative offices of academic departments and organized research units.
Questions or concerns about integrity of research may be addressed to your department chair, ombudspersons for the School of Medicine (list available on the above-referenced home page, from SOM department chairs or front SOM Academic Affairs Dean's office), SIO Academic Affairs Associate Dean Michael Mullin, or Coordinator Marianne Generates in the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.
Marjorie C. Caserio
Interim Chancellor