UW-Madison Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
Introduction and Guide to Electronic Resources on Research Ethics
Developed by the UW-Madison, Graduate School, Office of Research Policy
Ethics are fundamental to all academic research. They foster the trust necessary for complex institutions of modern research to function. In particular, researchers’ behavior must inspire their colleagues’ trust in their research results and the public’s trust that the information created through university research is reliable and that public funding of research is valuable. In addition, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) requirement that all NIH trainees receive training in research ethics has increased interest in research ethics.
Topics
The NIH recommends topics to be covered in research ethics training. They have become the standard for RCR education.
- Animal welfare
- Collaborative science
- Conflict of interest and commitment
- Data acquisition, management, sharing and ownership
- Human subjects
- Mentor/trainee responsibilities
- Publication practices, responsible authorship, and peer review
- Research misconduct
Online Research Training
University of Wisconsin-Madison has contracted with Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) to provide access to research training opportunities through an interactive online tutorial.
The following online training opportunities are offered through CITI:
- Human Subjects Protection
- Responsible Conduct of Research
- Stem Cell Online Training Course
- Good Clinical Practice
- Basics of Effort Reporting
Other Research Education Resources
Beyond online training modules, many Web sites provide access to case studies, bibliographies, and other materials for learning about and teaching research ethics.
- Office of Research Integrity (DHHS)
- Online Ethics Center for Engineering and Science (Case Western Reserve University)
- Poynter Center for the Study of Ethics and American Institutions (Indiana University)
- Responsible Conduct of Research (Boston College)
- Responsible Conduct of Research Education Consortium (RCREC)
- Survival Skills and Ethics Program (University of Pittsburgh)