How (not) to be held accountable in research: The case of the Dutch integrity code

The article starts with a concise explanation of the nature and role of values and norms. I emphasize the ethical and political importance of making explicit how values are interpreted and which norms are taken to advance them in concrete situations. Next, I apply this account in a critical examination of the recent Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. The conclusion is that this code is based on a flawed conception and an inadequate analysis of the nature and role of values and norms in science. Finally, I briefly sketch how the defects of the integrity code might be remedied by developing policies based on the broader notion of the public interest of science.