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
5 results
Clear
6 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Reproducibility and…
Significant reproducibility challenges in scientific research necessitate urgent action
Whilst significant reproducibility challenges are faced in research, to refer to the sum of these issues as a “crisis” risks detracting from the many successes of the UK’s scientific research base. Nonetheless, there is need for action to address the … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need for action on reproducibility challenges, highlighting existing efforts like the R&D People and Culture Strategy and the Future Research Assessment Programme to strengthen research culture and integrity without committing to new specific actions.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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12 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Reproducibility and…
Implement stronger tests for software and statistical skills in research funding applications
Research funders should implement stronger tests for the presence of adequate software and statistical skills within research teams at the outset of a funding application. Where these skills are perceived to be lacking, UKRI should consider the feasibility and cost … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation but provides no specific details on how it will implement stronger tests for software/statistical skills or consider a dedicated methodological support system for research teams.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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13 Recommendation Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Reproducibility and…
Increase emphasis on reproducibility and integrity in university research education and training
Currently there is insufficient attention placed on reproducibility and research integrity training for university students and research professionals. Greater emphasis should be placed on the importance of reproducibility and research integrity in education and training at undergraduate, postgraduate and early … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, stating UKRI's Collective Talent Funding programme and existing Doctoral Training Centres already aim to address the need for high-quality training in research integrity and reproducibility. However, it does not commit to new specific actions regarding greater emphasis or routine production of replications in training.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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20 Recommendation Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Reproducibility and…
Continued emphasis on data management plans as a condition of research funding is necessary
We welcome UKRI’s use of data management plans. A continued emphasis on their importance as a condition of research funding is necessary.
Government Response
The government accepts, affirming that data management plans remain an important requirement and UKRI will be considering how to further enhance their utility as part of policy and funding application requirement reviews.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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28 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Reproducibility and…
Publishers and funders should offer a 'registered report partnership model' for research transparency.
The ‘registered report partnership model’ offers a good opportunity for researchers to have their methodologies peer reviewed at an early stage in the research process, allowing researchers to incorporate feedback into their research plans. Within this model, funding and the … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation to offer a 'registered report partnership model' but provides no specific details on what aspects are accepted or how this will be implemented.
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