Responsible Conduct of Research Measure: initial development and pilot study

Area of Science:

• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Research Ethics
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Research misconduct (RM) and questionable research practices (QRPs) are significant concerns in scientific research.
• Existing methods for assessing RM and QRPs are limited, with a lack of self-report measures.
• Understanding researcher behavior is crucial for promoting research integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a self-report measure for assessing research misconduct and questionable research practices.
• To provide researchers with a tool to examine their own adherence to responsible conduct.
• To address the gap in existing measurement tools for research integrity.

Main Methods:

• The Responsible Conduct of Research Measure (RCRM) was developed through multiple pilot study waves.
• The study involved researchers from the social and behavioral sciences.
• Psychometric analyses were conducted to assess validity and reliability.

Main Results:

• Preliminary results indicate that the RCRM possesses adequate validity.
• The RCRM demonstrated adequate reliability in the studied population.
• The measure appears suitable for use among social and behavioral scientists.

Conclusions:

• The newly developed RCRM is a promising self-report instrument for evaluating research misconduct and questionable practices.
• The measure offers a valuable tool for researchers and institutions focused on research integrity.
• Future research should explore the RCRM's application in diverse scientific fields and its potential for intervention development.