Responsible Conduct of Research:
Overview

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) is a broad term referring to integrity and ethical standards in the work of scientists, scholars, and professionals involved in the field of scientific inquiry and practice. Responsible and ethical conduct of research is critical for excellence, as well as public trust, in science and engineering. Consequently, education in RCR is considered essential in the preparation of future scientists and engineers. 

URI is fully committed to educating its students, faculty and staff on the issues surrounding the responsible conduct of research, and their obligations as individuals and members of the larger research community.

Instruction areas of RCR education include:

  • Acquisition, Management, Sharing and Ownership of Data
  • Animal Welfare
  • Authorship/Plagiarism
  • Collaboration
  • Conflict of Interest
  • Human Subject Protections
  • Mentoring
  • Peer Review
  • Research Misconduct

All graduate students in majors with a research thesis or dissertation are required to complete RCR education.

In addition, certain granting agencies require individuals to complete RCR education. Granting agencies require the following individuals to complete RCR education:

National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) requires undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who participate in NSF funded projects receive instruction and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research.

National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) requires that all trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving support through any NIH training, career development award (individual or institutional), research education grant, and dissertation research grant must receive instruction in responsible conduct of research. NIH requires a minimum of eight contact hours of discussion-based education.

United States Department of Agriculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has mandated that program directors, faculty, undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and any staff participating in the research project receive appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research.