Russell Group response to Reproducibility and research integrity enquiry - September 2021

06 December 2021

Integrity in research is crucial to maintaining scientific excellence and retaining public trust in science. Russell Group universities are committed to conducting rigorous and open research, with high-quality methods and standards of research integrity. We welcome to opportunity to respond to this inquiry on reproducibility and research integrity.

Many of the factors that impact reproducibility stem from wider issues in fostering a positive overall research culture and environment. An inclusive and nuanced understanding of reproducibility can include an emphasis on replicability, reliability and transparency.

Systematic incentives in the research landscape contribute to the reproducibility issue, such as:

• Over-reliance on certain publication or citation metrics
• Promotion criteria
• Publication bias

Researchers need to be equipped with the right skills, and the resources required for fully reproducible and transparent study.

Funders, universities, researchers and publishers should work together to support reproducibility and transparency in research.

We support an approach of coordinated multilateral action by all actors in the sector on reproducibility and transparency in research as opposed to any unilateral action from Government, which may generate far greater costs for UK research.

The Russell Group would like to thank the members of the Russell Group Research Integrity Forum for their contribution to this submission.

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