Responsible conduct of research
Responsible conduct of research is a widely accepted set of ethical and professional standards for conducting research. Arizona State University is committed to maintaining the integrity fundamental to research activities through the responsible and ethical conduct of its faculty, staff and students. ASU promotes excellence in research and supports scholars from all fields. We are committed to the highest quality education for all students and scholars, and RCR instruction is essential to producing the best scientists and researchers for the future. To further this commitment, ASU has implemented an institutional plan for RCR training so that all ASU students and postdoctoral researchers supported by sponsored projects benefit from RCR training.
See the training requirements page for step-by-step instructions and registration.
Phase l training is an online training course offered through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative.
Phase ll training is completed via attendance at a workshop.
Topic areas within the RCR program
- Animal welfare.
- Data management.
- Misconduct in research.
- Responsible and safe laboratory practices.
- Collaborative research.
- Human subjects.
- Peer review.
- Conflicts of interest.
- Mentor/trainee responsibilities.
- Publication practices and responsible authoring.
To uphold ASU’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethics in the pursuit of knowledge, research should be:
- Consistent.
- Transparent.
- Shared.
- Verifiable.
- Honest.
- Responsible.
- Respectful.
- Objective.
In adhering to these principles, ASU strives to build public support for research and to perform research that will have impact on the communities served and the world at large. Programs and policies such as the Responsible Conduct of Research Program, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and Combating Trafficking in Persons serve to maintain the highest ethical standards in research.