Code of Practice for Research

Promoting good practice and preventing misconduct

The Code of Practice for Research is an essential reference tool to support researchers and research organisations in the conduct of research of the highest quality and standards.

Drawing upon UKRIO’s unique and extensive experiences in addressing good practice and misconduct in research, the Code provides key principles for researchers and research organisations alike. It also contains a Recommended Checklist for Researchers, a one-page, non-technical checklist for the key points of good practice in research.

Since the publication of the Code in 2009, it has been used or adopted by many research organisations, and endorsed by research funders and other bodies. The Code can be downloaded below or you can view an online version in the right-hand navigation

Applicable to all types of research, organisations can use the Code as a benchmark when drafting or revising their own codes of research practice, or adopt it in full or in part. Use of the Code can assist researchers and organisations in fulfilling the requirements of regulatory, funding and other bodies and ensure that important issues have not been overlooked.

UKRIO is committed to promoting good conduct in research by providing the research community with practical guidance on the issues which need to be addressed and facilitating the sharing of existing good practice. The Code is a vital part of our continuing work to encourage good conduct in research and to help to prevent misconduct, setting out the responsibilities and values critical to research, as well as providing practical guidance for researchers and their employers

The Code and a separate version of the Recommended Checklist are also available as PDFs:

Online version of the Code

UKRIO’s Code of Practice is a ‘living document’ and the intent is to periodically review it, to reflect changes in legislation and guidance, and other developments in good practice in research. UKRIO is actively seeking feedback on the current edition to inform its review.

To that end, we have published an online version of the Code, including a mechanism for the research community to submit feedback on specific sections and suggest new developments in good practice in research for inclusion. We would welcome your comments on the current edition of the Code.

The original 2009 versions of the Code of Practice for Research and the Recommended Checklist for Researchers can be found by clicking on the links.