A model of the interrelationship between research ethics and research integrity

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to explore the interrelationship between research ethics and research integrity with a focus on the primary forms of research misconduct, including plagiarism, fabrication, and falsification. It also details the main factors for their occurrence, and the possible ways for mitigating their use among scholars.

Methods: The method employed a detailed examination of the main ethical dilemmas, as delineated in literature, as well as the factors leading to these ethical breaches and the strategies to mitigate them. Further, the teaching experiences of the primary author are reflected in the development of the model.

Results: The results of this article are represented in a model illustrating the interrelationship between research ethics and research integrity. Further, a significant aspect of our article is the identification of novel forms of research misconduct concerning the use of irrelevant or forced citations or references.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the article highlights the substantial positive effects that adherence to research ethics and integrity have on the academic well-being of scholars.

KEYWORDS:

• Research ethics
• research integrity
• research misconduct
• plagiarism
• fabrication

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical statement

This does not apply to our study.

Additional information

Funding

This paper received no funding.

Notes on contributors

Abdulghani Muthanna

Abdulghani Muthanna is an associate professor at the Department of Teacher Education, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway. With interdisciplinary expertise in the development and reform of comparative and international (teacher) education in international contexts, his research interests include education policy, research ethics and integrity, research supervision, and teacher professionalism. He is also the leader of ‘TEDUPO: Teacher and Educator Professionalism: https://www.ntnu.edu/ilu/tedupo’ research group at NTNU.

Youmen Chaaban

Youmen Chaaban is a Research Associate Professor at the Educational Research Center, at the College of Education, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. Her research interests include teacher professional development, professional agency, and teacher leadership. Dr. Chaaban has over 50 research publications in international journals, including original research conducted in Lebanon and Qatar. She has also been actively involved in a number of teacher education programmes and professional development programmes, where she has held the positions of dean, head of department, curriculum coordinator, and educational consultant.

Saba Qadhi

Saba Qadhi is an experienced educator and scholar who has been working in the field of education for over 23 years. Dr. Qadhi has held several leadership positions at Qatar University, including coordinator of the secondary and primary education programmes, and Associate Director of the Core Curriculum Program. Currently, she serves as the Director of the Core Curriculum Program at Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. She received her Ph.D. in Education from the University of Reading, UK in 2018, and her master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Qatar University in 2009. Her primary research interests include educational and continuing professional development for teachers and instructors.