From policy to practice: A framework for promoting scientific integrity in psychology

Scientific integrity is foundational to the credibility, progress, and societal relevance of psychological science. Despite its importance, the concept is often conflated with related terms such as research ethics and research integrity, and guidance on how to build a culture of scientific integrity within the field of psychology is lacking. The purpose of this article is to define scientific integrity, highlight its relevance to psychology, examine its application and challenges, and propose a comprehensive framework to promote a culture of scientific integrity within the field. First, we define scientific integrity in relation to overlapping constructs, acknowledging areas of convergence while underscoring the importance of conceptual clarity and shared terminology in advancing scholarly work on this topic. Second, we establish scientific integrity as an important societal issue that has important applications across scientific disciplines, including psychology. Third, we explore, through examples, the ways in which scientific integrity has been both upheld and compromised in the psychology field. Fourth, we identify key facilitators and barriers to promoting a culture of scientific integrity within the profession of psychology. Finally, building on these insights, we introduce a comprehensive framework to promote scientific integrity in psychology at individual, institutional, and systemic levels. This framework is intended to provide guidance for psychologists-practitioners, researchers, and educators-and policymakers seeking to foster a more trustworthy profession. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).