General
| Mandatory/key compliance obligations | Avoid traditional forms of research misconduct including falsification, fabrication or plagiarism. Avoid other questionable research practices that may be considered integrity breaches, such as: destruction of research records, redundant publications, invalid authorship, inadequate acknowledgment, mismanagement of conflict of interest, misrepresentation in an agency document, mismanagement of grants or award funds, failing to comply with relevant agency policies, or failure to obtain ethics approval. Report only good faith (i.e., not malicious or vexatious) breaches of Agency policies to the Vice President University Research if the allegation concerns a Waterloo faculty member, staff member or student. Follow the Waterloo policy and participate as a complainant, a respondent or a third party, as appropriate. Attempt good faith efforts to resolve the complaint using alternative dispute resolution methods where appropriate. Waterloo does not currently have a specific whistle blower policy. However, Policy 33 offers some protection in this regard. |
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| Waterloo policy, procedure or guideline |
For all other Waterloo members: Administrative Guideline – Research Integrity |
| External policy/requirements |
Agency funded researchers must comply with agency policies. This includes researchers who hold awards outside of Canada or at organizations in Canada that have not signed the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions. By signing an application for a grant or an award, and by accepting a grant or an award, a researcher agrees to comply with the agencies' policies. |
| Who can help? |
For an initial confidential consultation concerning possible allegations of breaches |
| Best practices | Before making a formal allegation of irresponsible research conduct, make good faith efforts to resolve disputes using existing Waterloo dispute resolution mechanisms and processes. Ensure that you review the journal’s authorship and ethics requirements with all authors. Clarify IP ownership, authorship expectations and arrangements by means of written agreements. Ensure reporting is transparent and complete and adheres to best practice guidelines for the type of research/discipline involved. |
| Waterloo policy, procedure or guideline |
That services, benefits, opportunities, and facilities offered by the University be compatible with its purposes and to all persons in the University community with relevant qualifications. Such provisions shall not be denied wholly or partly on irrelevant or prohibited grounds. Policy 33 It is important to ensure that such IP rights are properly conferred on all those who are responsible for the development of the IP, while encouraging the openness and free exchange of ideas that are essential to successful scholarship. This policy requires the contribution of all parties to be appropriately recognized. Policy 73Mediation and Conciliation Services |
| External policy/requirements |
Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Enhancing the Quality and Transparency of Health Research (EQUATOR)Reporting Guidelines Based on Study Type (e.g. ARRIVE, CONSORT) |
| Who can help? | Office of Conflict Management and Human Rights |