Research ethics
At Uppsala University, great importance is attached to awareness of research ethics and adherence to good research practice. Society, its citizens and businesses need reliable research results, and it is important that the public has confidence in research. It therefore goes without saying that every researcher must ensure that they act with integrity.
The Swedish Higher Education Act stipulates: “In the course of their operations, higher education institutions shall uphold academic credibility and good research practice”. Any higher education institution that receives information regarding suspected breaches of good research practice has an obligation to investigate the allegations or refer them to the National Board for Assessment of Research Misconduct.
How reports about misconduct in research are handled
Since 1 January 2020, research misconduct issues have been regulated by the Act on Responsibility for Good Research Practice and the Examination of Research Misconduct (2019:504). Under the Act, reports of research misconduct (fabrication, falsification and plagiarism [FFP]) are to be investigated by a special board, the National Board for Assessment of Research Misconduct. The board is based in Uppsala, at the premises of the Swedish Ethical Review Authority.
Uppsala University has a Board for Investigation of Deviations from Good Research Practice (NUAF). The Board assists the Vice-Chancellor in matters relating to deviations from good research practice and in determining which reports of misconduct should be referred to the national board. In light of the Act, the University has drawn up guidelines designed to ensure that the University complies with the legal provisions (UFV 2019/1612).
If you wish to contact Uppsala University’s Board for Investigation of Deviations from Good Research Practice, you can do so via the following email address: nuaf@uu.se.
Animal experiments
All animal experiments conducted at Uppsala University have been approved in advance by the regional ethical committee on animal experiments. The committee assesses whether the benefits of the experiment outweigh the suffering the animals are expected to experience.
More about animal experiments at Uppsala University.
Ethical review
On 1 January 2004, the Act concerning the Ethical Review of Research involving Humans (2003:460) came into force. The Act applies to research involving a physical intervention on a person or conducted in a way that could affect a person physically or psychologically, and to studies of biological material that can be traced back to specific individuals, among other things.
Following an amendment to the Act in 2008, more types of research now come under the Act. From this point on, research involving the processing of sensitive personal data must undergo ethical review regardless of whether the participant has given their consent or not, and research carried out using a method that poses a manifest risk of harm to the participant must always undergo ethical review. This can also apply to surveys or interviews.
Even in the case of research that does not fall within the scope of the Act, it may be in the researchers’ interest to have the project reviewed. Many journals and conferences require research ethics approval in order to publish or allow the presentation of a paper. Researchers and students may wish to seek ethical advice if a project is felt to be sensitive in respects not covered by the Act. In that case, an advisory opinion may be sought.
Contact
- If you have any questions regarding Uppsala University’s overall work and strategy on research ethics and good research practice, please concact
- Eva Tiensuu Janson
- Vice President for Research