9
Accepted
Foster an environment where research integrity and reproducibility are championed across the community
Recommendation
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, and for promoting the importance of reproducibility within their research field, we recognise that aspects of the academic process, such as time pressures and the publication model, act against the promotion of research integrity and reproducibility. Therefore, the research community, including research institutions and publishers, should work alongside individuals to create an environment where research integrity and reproducibility are championed.
Government Response Summary
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.
Paragraph Reference
68
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We partially accept the recommendation (Paragraph 68) and the conclusion (Paragraph 127). 21. This does not require a formal response from Government. There are a number of ways in which UKRI are supporting the sector to address the issues highlighted. This recommendation rightly recognises the shared responsibility of the research community in promoting research integrity and reproducibility. There are many parties that have a role to play in driving forward action, and no single entity can achieve this alone. Action will require collaboration from various parts of the system, in many different ways. 22. UKRI has an extensive portfolio of work aimed at shifting the incentives in the research system away from pressures to publish quickly in high prestige journals. We have been working across the community to embed these changes. Examples include evidenced narrative CVs,3 changes to the REF process for 2028 and the UKRI People and Teams action plan.4 23. Recognising the need to support the research community on good practice, UKRI also hosts the Good research resource hub5 which brings together policies, standards and guidance on how to deliver excellent research and innovation and nurture an inclusive environment. 24. UKRI is working with DSIT to establish the Good Practice Exchange (GPEx), proposed in the Government’s R&D People and Culture Strategy as a mechanism to develop, test, evaluate and highlight initiatives to improve research culture. It will provide a space for the community to share best practice, collaborate and promote existing initiatives aimed at improving culture across the R&I sector while helping build an evidence base. 25. These deep research culture changes are crucial to reduce the pressures identified in the report and without them, the parallel interventions to support research reproducibility and integrity listed below will be unlikely to succeed.
Source
Report
Sixth Report - Reproducibility and Research Integrity
10 May 2023
HC 101
Addressee Bodies
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Timeline
Recommendation age
3.1 yrs
Report published
10 May 2023