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							<p>You should now be familiar with the basic terms and concepts associated with irresponsible research practices. You should also know that researchers have an obligation to report suspicions of irresponsible conduct.</p>
							<p>One day you might encounter a potential case of irresponsible conduct. How should this kind of situation be dealt with?</p>
							
							<img id="irp_1_60_img1" class="img-responsive" src="../images/page_images/course_specific/irp_1_60_img1.png" alt="Alif, a male researcher, and his colleague are talking. Alif looks concerned and annoyed. His hands are slightly raised. Alif's colleague, a female researcher, is listening. Alif is saying: Did you read the new paper published by our competitors? They lifted parts of our work! We ought to report them for irresponsible conduct..." />
							
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							<instructional-text><p>Read Alif's account of his suspicions concerning irresponsible conduct and put yourself in the position of the person advising him. Click on your chosen responses and then continue on  to access feedback or further questions.</p></instructional-text>
							<instructional-text-accessible><p>Work through Alif's account of his suspicions concerning irresponsible conduct and put yourself in the position of the person advising him. Choose your response and then continue on to access feedback or further questions.</p></instructional-text-accessible>
							
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								<!-- question 1 -->
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									<action-question>
										<p><em>"Two months ago, I presented a report on my research at our regional research meeting. I thought it went well and many interesting questions were raised. Then this morning, when I looked at the latest issue of a journal in my field, I discovered that portions of the work I presented were published by a team that was at the meeting and asked the most questions. I'm really concerned that they stole my work. Isn't this a major breach of best practice &ndash; an example of research misconduct? What should I do?"</em>
										<br><br><strong>How would you advise Alif?</strong></p>
									</action-question>
									<action-link goto-panel="1"><p>No, this is one of the risks of presenting papers. The abstracts for the presentations are available, so your priority is more or less established. See if you can pull together your work in a way that will make it seem original and get it published.</p></action-link>
									<action-link goto-panel="2"><p>This is a major breach of best practice and a clear case of serious misconduct. Take your presentation and their publication to our research office and ask them to investigate.</p></action-link>
									<action-link goto-panel="3"><p>Tell me more about the situation. </p></action-link>
								</action-panel>
								<!-- question 2 -->
								<action-panel panel="1">
									<action-question><p>This would not be good advice because, as an advisor, you do not know the facts. The other team might have published information they had no right to publish and could have been dishonest with their publisher.</p></action-question>
									<action-link goto-panel="3"><p>The best option in this case would be: "Tell me more about the situation."</p></action-link>
								</action-panel>
								<!-- question 3 -->
								<action-panel panel="2">
									<action-question><p>This would not be good advice because, as an advisor, you do not know the facts. The other team might have conducted the same research independently. In giving the presentation, the student might have made the information publicly available and open for public use.</p></action-question>
									<action-link goto-panel="3"><p>The best option in this case would be: "Tell me more about the situation." </p></action-link>
								</action-panel>
								<!-- question 4 -->
								<action-panel panel="3">
									<action-question><p>Choose the option that is closest to your field of research to see how Alif would elaborate on his dilemma:</p></action-question>
									<action-link goto-panel="4"><p>Arts & Humanities</p></action-link>
									<action-link goto-panel="5"><p>Social Science</p></action-link>
									<action-link goto-panel="6"><p>Natural Science</p></action-link>
									<action-link goto-panel="6"><p>Engineering</p></action-link>
									<action-link goto-panel="7"><p>Biomedical Science</p></action-link>
								</action-panel>
								<!-- question 5 -->
								<action-panel panel="4">
									<action-question>
										<p><em>"I spent months in the archives locating obscure sources that had never been reported. Some were miscatalogued and would likely have gone unreported for years had I not followed one obscure lead. I know the other team did not spend as much time in the archives and did not have the experience needed to discover these materials. They had to have used the information from my presentation. That is why they asked so many questions."</em>
										<br><br><strong>How would you advise Alif now?</strong></p>
									</action-question>
									<action-link goto-panel="8"><p>You are right. This is a major breach of best practice and a clear case of serious misconduct. Take your presentation and their publication to our research office and ask them to investigate.</p></action-link>
									<action-link goto-panel="9"><p>Well, this might be a reportable offence, but, since the researchers work at another university, you will have to report your suspicions to their institution.</p></action-link>
									<action-link goto-panel="10"><p>I understand the point you are making, but, based on your presentation, they could have made a quick trip to the archives, reviewed the material you reported and reached their own conclusions. I am not sure this is a reportable offence. I need more information.</p></action-link>
								</action-panel>
								<!-- question 6 -->
								<action-panel panel="5">
									<action-question>
										<p><em>"I spent months developing the survey that was the basis of my presentation. My questions are original and thoroughly validated. Now, it is true that the other team did not use my exact wording, but the content of the questions was basically the same and presented in roughly the same order. They had to have used the information from my presentation. That is why they asked so many questions."</em>
										<br><br><strong>How would you advise Alif now?</strong></p>
									</action-question>
									<action-link goto-panel="8"><p>You are right. This is a major breach of best practice and a clear case of serious misconduct. Take your presentation and their publication to our research office and ask them to investigate.</p></action-link>
									<action-link goto-panel="9"><p>Well, this might be a reportable offence, but, since the researchers work at another university, you will have to report your suspicions to their institution. </p></action-link>
									<action-link goto-panel="10"><p>I understand the point you are making, but, based on your presentation, they could have read the same background literature, reviewed the material you reported and formulated their own survey. I am not sure this is a reportable offence. I need more information.</p></action-link>
								</action-panel>
								<!-- question 7 -->
								<action-panel panel="6">
									<action-question>
										<p><em>"I spent months designing the experiments I reported in my presentation. Granted, I used standard equipment. Everyone uses this equipment for measurement. And I did use some common reagents. But no one has tackled this problem the same way I did. They must have used the information from my presentation. That is why they asked so many questions."</em>
										<br><br><strong>How would you advise Alif now?</strong></p>
									</action-question>
									<action-link goto-panel="8"><p>You are right. This is a major breach of best practice and a clear case of serious misconduct. Take your presentation and their publication to our research office and ask them to investigate. </p></action-link>
									<action-link goto-panel="9"><p>Well, this might be a reportable offence, but, since the researchers work at another university, you will have to report your suspicions to their institution.</p></action-link>
									<action-link goto-panel="10"><p>I understand the point you are making, but, based on your presentation, they could have rethought their own approach, made some modifications and made similar discoveries. This is the way science works. Researchers build on the work of others. I am not sure this is a reportable offence. I need more information.</p></action-link>
								</action-panel>
								<!-- question 8 -->
								<action-panel panel="7">
									<action-question>
										<p><em>"I spent months designing this trial. No one has tried this intervention on this group of participants before. This group had never reported any work in this area before and I am not even sure they had funding to do this research. They had to have used the information from my presentation. That is why they asked so many questions."</em>
										<br><br><strong>How would you advise Alif now?</strong></p>
									</action-question>
									<action-link goto-panel="8"><p>You are right. This is a major breach of best practice and a clear case of serious misconduct. Take your presentation and their publication to our research office and ask them to investigate. </p></action-link>
									<action-link goto-panel="9"><p>Well, this might be a reportable offence, but, since the researchers work at another university, you will have to report your suspicions to their institution. </p></action-link>
									<action-link goto-panel="10"><p>I understand the point you are making, but, based on your presentation, they could have refined some work they already had in process, undertaken the study and drawn their own conclusions. I am not sure this is a reportable offence. I need more information. </p></action-link>
								</action-panel>
								<!-- question 9 -->
								<action-panel panel="8">
									<action-question>
										<p>This is not good advice for two reasons:</p>
										<ol>
											<li>The irresponsible behaviour, if there was any, was at another institution and should be reported to that institution</li>
											<li>While the student has suspicions, they are not verified. More information is needed before making a decision about the best course of action.</li>
										</ol>
										<p>As before, there are additional questions that need to be asked.</p>
									</action-question>
									<action-link goto-panel="10"><p>Next</p></action-link>
								</action-panel>
								<!-- question 10 -->
								<action-panel panel="9">
									<action-question>
										<p>This is not good advice. While the student has suspicions, they are not verified and it's possible that crucial information is being ignored. You need more information before making a decision about the best course of action.
										<br><br>As before, there are additional questions that need to be asked.</p>
									</action-question>
									<action-link goto-panel="10"><p>Next</p></action-link>
								</action-panel>
								<!-- question 11 -->
								<action-panel panel="10">
									<action-question>
										<p><em>"What more can I tell you? I am sure they are reporting the research I explained in my presentation. They did not ask permission to use my research. They did not acknowledge my work in their publication. Best practice says you should be truthful and transparent when reporting research. They were not truthful and transparent. In fact, they are fabricating research by claiming credit for work they did not do. This is surely irresponsible practice and most likely serious irresponsible practice."</em>
										<br><br>You can look at the lists below for some ideas on what other questions could be posed at this stage.
										<br><br>Did you:</p>
										<ul>
											<li>Check to find out whether the conference had any rules about copying or using materials presented during the conference?</li>
											<li>Make it clear when you presented your research that you had not published your findings and the information you presented could not be published without your permission?</li>
											<li>Consider whether it might have been better to publish your findings before presenting them?</li>
										</ul>
										<p>Are you:</p>
										<ul>
											<li>Certain that your competitors did not conduct the research independently?</li>
											<li>Sure that your competitors were not making use of more than your ideas (which, once presented, are open for anyone to use)?</li>
										</ul>
									</action-question>
									<action-link goto-panel="11"><p>Next</p></action-link>
								</action-panel>
								<!-- feedback -->
								<action-panel panel="3">
									<action-question>
										<p>If Alif took all of the precautionary steps outlined on the last slide and is certain that his competitors were reporting information they did not gather, then it is possible that his competitors engaged in irresponsible conduct. This information can be shared with the local research office but, ultimately, the allegations must be reported to the institution where the research was conducted (and then, perhaps, to the journal that published the article, if the institution fails to respond).
										<br><br>If the precautionary steps outlined on the last slide were not taken, or if there is uncertainty over whether the competitors were reporting information they did not gather, some of the blame in this case may fall on Alif's shoulders. He may not have planned and reported his research as carefully as he should have. This is why careful upfront planning in research is so important.</p>
									</action-question>
								</action-panel>
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							<!-- ACCESSIBLE START -->
							<accessible-block>
								<h4>Question 1:</h4>
								<p><em>"Two months ago, I presented a report on my research at our regional research meeting. I thought it went well and many interesting questions were raised. Then this morning, when I looked at the latest issue of a journal in my field, I discovered that portions of the work I presented were published by a team that was at the meeting and asked the most questions. I'm really concerned that they stole my work. Isn't this a major breach of best practice &ndash; an example of research misconduct? What should I do?"</em></p>
								<p><strong>How would you advise Alif?</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 1:</strong> No, this is one of the risks of presenting papers. The abstracts for the presentations are available, so your priority is more or less established. See if you can pull together your work in a way that will make it seem original and get it published. <strong>[Proceed to Question 2]</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 2:</strong> This is a major breach of best practice and a clear case of serious misconduct. Take your presentation and their publication to our research integrity office and ask them to investigate. <strong>[Proceed to Question 3]</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 3:</strong> Tell me more about the situation. <strong>[Proceed to Question 4]</strong></p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Question 2:</h4>
								<p>This would not be good advice because, as an advisor, you do not know the facts. The other team might have published information they had no right to publish and could have been dishonest with their publisher.</p>
								<p>The best option in this case would be: "Tell me more about the situation." <strong>[Proceed to Question 4]</strong></p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Question 3:</h4>
								<p>This would not be good advice because, as an advisor, you do not know the facts. The other team might have conducted the same research independently. In giving the presentation, the student might have made the information publicly available and open for public use.</p>
								<p>The best option in this case would be: "Tell me more about the situation." <strong>[Proceed to Question 4]</strong></p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Question 4:</h4>
								<p>Choose the option that is closest to your field of research to see how Alif would elaborate on his dilemma:</p>
								<p><strong>Answer 1:</strong> Arts & Humanities <strong>[Proceed to Question 5]</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 2:</strong> Social Science <strong>[Proceed to Question 6]</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 3:</strong> Natural Science <strong>[Proceed to Question 7]</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 4:</strong> Engineering <strong>[Proceed to Question 7]</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 5:</strong> Biomedical Science <strong>[Proceed to Question 8]</strong></p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Question 5:</h4>
								<p><em>"I spent months in the archives locating obscure sources that had never been reported. Some were miscatalogued and would likely have gone unreported for years had I not followed one obscure lead. I know the other team did not spend as much time in the archives and did not have the experience needed to discover these materials. They had to have used the information from my presentation. That is why they asked so many questions."</em></p>
								<p><strong>How would you advise Alif now?</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 1:</strong> You are right. This is a major breach of best practice and a clear case of serious misconduct. Take your presentation and their publication to our research office and ask them to investigate. <strong>[Proceed to Question 9]</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 2:</strong> Well, this might be a reportable offence, but, since the researchers work at another university, you will have to report your suspicions to their institution. <strong>[Proceed to Question 10]</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 3:</strong> I understand the point you are making, but, based on your presentation, they could have made a quick trip to the archives, reviewed the material you reported and reached their own conclusions. I am not sure this is a reportable offence. I need more information. <strong>[Proceed to Question 11]</strong></p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Question 6:</h4>
								<p><em>"I spent months developing the survey that was the basis of my presentation. My questions are original and thoroughly validated. Now, it is true that the other team did not use my exact wording, but the content of the questions was basically the same and presented in roughly the same order. They had to have used the information from my presentation. That is why they asked so many questions."</em></p>
								<p><strong>How would you advise Alif now?</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 1:</strong> You are right. This is a major breach of best practice and a clear case of serious misconduct. Take your presentation and their publication to our research office and ask them to investigate. <strong>[Proceed to Question 9]</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 2:</strong> Well, this might be a reportable offence, but, since the researchers work at another university, you will have to report your suspicions to their institution. <strong>[Proceed to Question 10]</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 3:</strong> I understand the point you are making, but, based on your presentation, they could have read the same background literature, reviewed the material you reported and formulated their own survey. I am not sure this is a reportable offence. I need more information. <strong>[Proceed to Question 11]</strong></p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Question 7:</h4>
								<p><em>"I spent months designing the experiments I reported in my presentation. Granted, I used standard equipment. Everyone uses this equipment for measurement. And I did use some common reagents. But no one has tackled this problem the same way I did. They must have used the information from my presentation. That is why they asked so many questions."</em></p>
								<p><strong>How would you advise Alif now?</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 1:</strong> You are right. This is a major breach of best practice and a clear case of serious misconduct. Take your presentation and their publication to our research office and ask them to investigate. <strong>[Proceed to Question 9]</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 2:</strong> Well, this might be a reportable offence, but, since the researchers work at another university, you will have to report your suspicions to their institution. <strong>[Proceed to Question 10]</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 3:</strong> I understand the point you are making, but, based on your presentation, they could have rethought their own approach, made some modifications and made similar discoveries. This is the way science works. Researchers build on the work of others. I am not sure this is a reportable offence. I need more information. <strong>[Proceed to Question 11]</strong></p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Question 8:</h4>
								<p><em>"I spent months designing this trial. No one has tried this intervention on this group of participants before. This group had never reported any work in this area before and I am not even sure they had funding to do this research. They had to have used the information from my presentation. That is why they asked so many questions."</em></p>
								<p><strong>How would you advise Alif now?</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 1:</strong> You are right. This is a major breach of best practice and a clear case of serious misconduct. Take your presentation and their publication to our research office and ask them to investigate. <strong>[Proceed to Question 9]</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 2:</strong> Well, this might be a reportable offence, but, since the researchers work at another university, you will have to report your suspicions to their institution. <strong>[Proceed to Question 10]</strong></p>
								<p><strong>Answer 3:</strong> I understand the point you are making, but, based on your presentation, they could have refined some work they already had in process, undertaken the study and drawn their own conclusions. I am not sure this is a reportable offence. I need more information. <strong>[Proceed to Question 11]</strong></p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Question 9:</h4>
								<p>This is not good advice for two reasons:</p>
								<ol>
									<li>The irresponsible behaviour, if there was any, was at another institution and should be reported to that institution</li>
									<li>While the student has suspicions, they are not verified. More information is needed before making a decision about the best course of action.</li>
								</ol>
								<p>As before, there are additional questions that need to be asked.</p>
								<p><strong>[Proceed to Question 11]</strong></p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Question 10:</h4>
								<p>This is not good advice. While the student has suspicions, they are not verified and it's possible that crucial information is being ignored. You need more information before making a decision about the best course of action.</p>
								<p>As before, there are additional questions that need to be asked.</p>
								<p><strong>[Proceed to Question 11]</strong></p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Question 11:</h4>
								<p><em>"What more can I tell you? I am sure they are reporting the research I explained in my presentation. They did not ask permission to use my research. They did not acknowledge my work in their publication. Best practice says you should be truthful and transparent when reporting research. They were not truthful and transparent. In fact, they are fabricating research by claiming credit for work they did not do. This is surely irresponsible practice and most likely serious irresponsible practice."</em></p>
								<p>You can look at the lists below for some ideas on what other questions could be posed at this stage.</p>
								<p>Did you:</p>
								<ul>
									<li>Check to find out whether the conference had any rules about copying or using materials presented during the conference?</li>
									<li>Make it clear when you presented your research that you had not published your findings and the information you presented could not be published without your permission?</li>
									<li>Consider whether it might have been better to publish your findings before presenting them?</li>
								</ul>
								<p>Are you:</p>
								<ul>
									<li>Certain that your competitors did not conduct the research independently?</li>
									<li>Sure that your competitors were not making use of more than your ideas (which, once presented, are open for anyone to use)?</li>
								</ul>
								<p><strong>[Proceed to Feedback 12]</strong></p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Feedback 12:</h4>
								<p>If Alif took all of the precautionary steps outlined on the last slide and is certain that his competitors were reporting information they did not gather, then it is possible that his competitors engaged in irresponsible conduct. This information can be shared with the local research office but, ultimately, the allegations must be reported to the institution where the research was conducted (and then, perhaps, to the journal that published the article, if the institution fails to respond).</p>
								<p>If the precautionary steps outlined on the last slide were not taken, or if there is uncertainty over whether the competitors were reporting information they did not gather, some of the blame in this case may fall on Alif's shoulders. He may not have planned and reported his research as carefully as he should have. This is why careful upfront planning in research is so important.</p>
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