Reproducibility and research integrity

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 22 Jul 2021 Closed: 19 Feb 2024 Parliament page
As the UK seeks to recover from the pandemic, research and innovation has the ability to drive economic growth, with UKRI estimating that every £1 spent on research and development delivers £7 in economic and social benefit. However, the integrity of research, especially medical and social science research, is at … Read more
21 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
1 Letter
4 Events
Activity timeline 11 events
21 Jul
2023
Report published
10 May
2023
Report published
25 Feb
2022
Correspondence
2 Feb
2022
Oral evidence
2 Feb
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
19 Jan
2022
Oral evidence
19 Jan
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
15 Dec
2021
Oral evidence
15 Dec
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
1 Dec
2021
Oral evidence
1 Dec
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
2 Feb 2022
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George Freeman MP · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy James Parry · UK Research Integrity Office Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser · UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
19 Jan 2022
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Dr Adrian Weller · University of Cambridge Professor Sebastian Vollmer · TU Kaiserslautern
15 Dec 2021
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Dr Alina Chan · Viral: The Search for the Origin of Covid-19 Dr Ben Goldacre · Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford Dr Elizabeth Moylan · Wiley Dr Jessica Butler · University of Aberdeen Dr Ritu Dhand · Springer Nature Richard Horton · The Lancet The Viscount Ridley DL · Viral: The Search for the Origin of Covid-19
1 Dec 2021
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Dr Ivan Oransky · Retraction Watch Dr Janine Austin Clayton · Office of Research on Women’s Health at the United States National Institute for Health Professor Dorothy Bishop · University of Oxford Professor Marcus Munafò · UK Reproducibility Network Steering Group Professor Neil Ferguson OBE · Imperial College London
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Sixth Report - Reproducibility and Research Integrity HC 101 10 May 2023 28 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Accepted
Sixth Report - Reproducibility and…
Insufficient quantitative evidence on UK research integrity issues hinders effective policy responses.
Although qualitative evidence indicates a potentially substantial scale of research integrity issues in the UK, there is a lack of quantitative evidence, including on the relative significance of the different causes of problems. This can only hamper efforts to evaluate … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the newly established UKRI Committee on Research Integrity (UK CORI) has a role in improving the evidence base on research integrity, thereby addressing the identified lack of quantitative data.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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9 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - Reproducibility and…
Foster an environment where research integrity and reproducibility are championed across the community
Most reproducibility issues are, in the main, not the result of deliberate bad practice. Many of the incentives faced by individuals conducting research act against reproducibility. Whilst individuals must take responsibility for conducting work which prioritises robust analysis and transparency, … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation, stating that UKRI is already supporting the research community in promoting integrity and reproducibility through various initiatives. These include shifting incentives via narrative CVs, changes to the REF process, hosting a research resource hub, and establishing a Good Practice Exchange.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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14 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - Reproducibility and…
Incorporate mandatory reproducibility training and professional development for researchers throughout their careers
Institutions should incorporate mandatory reproducibility training and professional development plans for researchers across the course of their career. (Paragraph 83) Reproducibility and Research Integrity 51
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, stating UKRI's Collective Talent Funding programme and its Doctoral Training Centres and Partnerships already aim to provide high-quality, consistent development and training for researchers across different career stages, supporting skill development for doctoral students.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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24 Conclusion Accepted
Sixth Report - Reproducibility and…
Academic reward structures disincentivise research reproducibility and integrity.
Reward structures in academia disincentivise reproducibility by placing disproportionate value on secured funding and frequent publication in prestigious journals.
Government Response
The government partially accepts, explaining that UKRI has an extensive portfolio of ongoing work to shift incentives in the research system, including narrative CVs, changes to the REF, funding for the UK Reproducibility Network, and supporting the UK Committee on Research Integrity.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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Government Response AI assessment · 28 of 21 classified
Accepted 4
Accepted in Part 11
Acknowledged 5
Deferred 4
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 3
Total 21 recs + 7 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
25 Feb 2022 Correspondence from Sir Patrick Vallance, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, to the Chair regarding guidance to implement the Concordat to Support Research Integrity in Government
Parliament page