The University of Plymouth is committed to maintaining and promoting the highest standards of integrity and probity in scientific research.
There is an established set of fundamental principles detailed in the University's policies to ensure good scientific practice, the integrity of research involving human participants, their tissue, as well as non-human live organisms; and general principles of data confidentiality and access.
All researchers within the University of Plymouth have a duty to society, to their profession, to the University and to those funding their research, to conduct their research in the most conscientious and responsible manner possible.
The University seeks to foster an environment where good research practice is encouraged and where there is adequate mentoring and supervision at all relevant levels.
The University is a signatory to the Universities UK Concordat to Support Research Integrity and has a set of fundamental principles to ensure good scientific practice (including publication ethics, general principles of data confidentiality and access) across all research activities.
Refer to our Code of Good Research Practice and Research Ethics pages for further information on the institution's regulations.
The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) came into force on 25 May 2018.
This new legislation expands the rights of individuals to control how their personal information is collected and processed and places a range of new obligations on organisations to be more accountable for data protection.
If you are a researcher dealing with identifiable information and you have a question what is your responsibility and good practice in data management, please contact your Faculty Research and Integrity Committee.
If you are a research participant, you can out how your data are managed in our Research Participant Privacy Notice.
We are committed to investigating any allegations of research misconduct fully and expeditiously. We have also a responsibility to protect researchers from malicious, mischievous, or frivolous allegations.
Anyone suspecting misconduct by a researcher is obligated to report this in accordance with the procedures described in the Code of Good Research Practice, section 4. Such whistleblowers must not investigate or take action on their own account but follow appropriate procedures.
If you suspect a case of research misconduct, please, refer to the Code of Good Research Practice and our whistleblowers policies, and contact the relevant Head of Department/School, Faculty Dean or Dr John Martin, the Secretary of the University Research Ethics and Integrity Committee, for advice.
The University of Plymouth adheres to a number external concordats to ensure an environment of excellence for research and researchers