The Research Environment Norm Inventory (RENI): a study of integrity in research administrative systems

Area of Science:

• Research Integrity
• Higher Education Administration
• Scientific Ethics

Background:

• Studies on research integrity have largely overlooked university research administrators.
• Research administrators are vital for institutional missions, science, and academic infrastructure.
• Existing research lacks a comprehensive understanding of the role of research administration in maintaining research integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To extend research on integrity to administrative structures.
• To develop and utilize a new instrument, the Research Environment Norm Inventory (RENI).
• To investigate the contribution of research administrators to the research environment's integrity.

Main Methods:

• Data collection targeted university research administrators and their professional associations.
• Development and application of the Research Environment Norm Inventory (RENI).
• Analysis of administrative perspectives on research integrity.

Main Results:

• Evidence indicates U.S. research administration supports integrity through community respect, institutional boundary adherence, professionalism, respect for authority, and conflict sensitivity.
• Integrity structures are significantly influenced by institutional settings and environments.
• The RENI instrument provided insights into the norms governing research administration.

Conclusions:

• Research administration plays a key, yet understudied, role in upholding research integrity.
• Institutional context is a primary determinant of integrity structures within research environments.
• Further research should explore the nuances of administrative roles in diverse academic settings.