• Research ethics refers to the ethical principles or behavioral norms that researchers must adhere to in order to conduct responsible research
• In research ethics, the key word is the “honesty” of researchers, meaning the integrity of research. However, research ethics is not solely about honesty. It is a comprehensive concept that includes institutional regulations, laboratory culture, the social responsibility of researchers, and the protection of research subjects.

• The integrity of research is based on adherence to core values—objectivity, honesty, openness, fairness, accountability, and stewardship.

  • Objectivity: Certain kinds of motivation should not influence researchers’ actions
  • Honesty: Researchers must utilize and report research materials and data as they are throughout the entire research process
  • Openness: Data and results obtained through research should be transparently disclosed
  • Fairness: Relationships or conflicts of interest should not influence the allocation of research resources or the evaluation of research achievements
  • Accountability: Researchers should be able to demonstrate the validity of the research process and outcomes
  • Stewardship: Research communities should be operated to ensure the effective dissemination of research value and the advancement of researchers' activities
• Researchers should consider factors that may affect society as a whole from the planning stages of research onward. Throughout the research process, they must ensure the accuracy of data and derive results through objective methodologies to ensure reliability.

• The Research Integrity Committee is a committee established at KAIST to promote research ethics among researchers, prevent research misconduct, and conduct investigations for integrity verification in case of research misconduct.
• Responsibilities of Research Integrity Committee
  • Matters related to the establishment and operation of systems concerning research ethics and integrity
  • Matters related to the receipt and disposition of reports from informants
  • Matters related to preliminary and main investigations
  • Matters related to the composition of investigation committees and the appointment of committee members
  • Matters related to the protection of informants and measures to restore the honor of subjects under investigation
  • Matters related to the handling of results from preliminary/main investigations and follow-up measures
  • Other matters raised by the committee chair
• Committee operating department and contact: Strategic Research Planning Team (Ext. 2187)

• Fabrication, falsification
  • “Fabrication” is making up research data or results and recording or reporting them.
  • “Falsification” is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record.
• Plagiarism :

  "Plagiarism" refers to the act of utilizing another person's original ideas or creations, not general knowledge, without proper attribution to present them as one's own to a third party.

  • Using someone else's research content in whole or in part without proper attribution
  • Modifying the wording or sentence structure of someone else's work without proper attribution
  • Utilizing someone else's original ideas without proper attribution
  • Translating and using someone else's work without proper attribution
• Unethical authorship :

  "Unethical authorship" refers to the act of granting authorship without justifiable reason to individuals who have not contributed to the research content or results, or awarding authorship as expressions of gratitude or courtesy to individuals who have not contributed.

  • Granting authorship when there has been no contribution to the research content or results
  • Not granting authorship when there has been contribution to the research content or results
  • Publishing or presenting a student's thesis in academic journals, etc., under the sole name of the advisor without due credit
• Redundant publication
  • "Redundant publication" refers to the act of a researcher publishing works that are identical or substantially similar to previous research results without proper attribution to the source, with the intention of obtaining undue benefits such as receiving research funds or gaining separate research recognition.
  • However, rewriting content previously published in scholarly journals for mass media or general interest magazines is not considered redundant publication.
• Other research misconduct: “Other research misconduct” refers to acts specified in any of the following.
  • Deliberately obstructing investigations into one's or others' misconduct or causing harm to whistleblowers
  • Proposing, forcing, or threatening others to engage in research misconduct
  • Engaging in actions that seriously deviate from what is generally acceptable within each academic field

• Reports can be submitted to the secretary of the Research Integrity Committee (Head of the Strategic Research Planning Team) or the designated personnel in writing, verbally, over the phone, via email, and through any other available means.
• When making a report, it is necessary to identify the subject(s) under investigation, specify the relevant paper or other research outcomes, and provide supporting evidence and documentation.

The identity of the informant will not be directly or indirectly disclosed. However, if the informant represents an institution or entity, such information may be disclosed during the investigation process.

If the informant is found to have deliberately or with significant negligence reported false information, he/she may be excluded from protection, and disciplinary action may be requested to the head of the affiliated institution.

• Research ethics information portal : https://www.cre.or.kr/
• Reference management and plagiarism check software: EndNote, Turn it in, iThenticate (see library website for information on account creation and use)