Research integrity remains crucial in the COVID-19 crisis
ENRIO Statement: Research integrity even more important for research during a pandemic
Research integrity remains crucial in the COVID-19 crisis, given the need for robust, evidence-based conclusions, according to the European Network of Research Integrity Offices (ENRIO).
The COVID-19 pandemic has rightly stimulated much research, both of a medical and non-medical nature. Governments, institutions and the public expect from researchers credible data and reliable conclusions on which they can confidently base momentous policy decisions about healthcare, economics and society.
The urgency to understand and overcome the pandemic may induce researchers to ignore the due consideration for ethics and biosafety standards and protocols, or to cut corners in research to quickly reach conclusions in order to impact rapid decision making. While fast results are clearly required in this critical situation, that is no excuse for bad research practices. Some poorly designed studies have already been published in the specialist literature. Controversial statements and unproven claims from researchers have appeared in the media. Some of these have been immediately questioned, leading to confusion and loss of trust among the public.
The scientific and scholarly community has established rules that govern robust, peer-reviewed and trustworthy research. Failing to follow these rules will have a detrimental effect on research: bad practices will distort our knowledge of COVID-19 and will obstruct or delay our efforts to stop the pandemic and save lives.
Researchers should communicate their work on social and other media responsibly, with professionalism and transparency. Subjective or unfounded interpretations must be avoided and information must not be intentionally omitted. Eroding the integrity of research undermines the trust of our colleagues, the public and policymakers. Academic and research organisations in particular, as trusted promoters of good research practices, should be extra vigilant in identifying and clearly exposing poor as well as fraudulent practices to protect the public from flawed interpretations by overenthusiastic, careless or unscrupulous researchers.
As a network of research integrity organisations from across Europe, we now urge the research community to respect the highest integrity standards in performing and reporting research for the benefit of humanity now and in the future.
Download the statement here
About ENRIO
The European Network of Research Integrity Offices (ENRIO) brings together experts and practitioners dealing with questions about responsible conduct of research and investigation of research misconduct. Since the network’s inception in 2008, ENRIO has rapidly enlarged its membership. Today, the network reaches 32 member organisations who are spread across 24 countries. More information: www.enrio.eu
Press contact: Kalle Videnoja, secretary of ENRIO office@enrio.eu Tel. +358 44 775 0796
This statement is the fruit of work conducted by UKRIO’s Pablo Fernandez with the help of ENRIO members who have provided their timely feedback and valuable comments. The statement was initiated in ENRIO’s meeting on 29 March 2019. UKRIO is a founder member of ENRIO.