Research Integrity

What is Research Integrity?

Research Integrity is the expectation that each member of the University of Toronto (U of T) has a responsibility to foster intellectual honesty and to be vigilant regarding the conduct of research and scholarship, whether their own or others.

The University’s Policy on Ethical Conduct in Research requires members to follow “the highest standards of ethical conduct in every aspect of research including applications, proposals, the research itself, reports and publication.” These standards of ethical conduct are consistent with the requirements of granting agencies and others who sponsor research at the University.

What is Research Misconduct?

U of T strives to uphold the highest standards of research integrity and will respond to allegations of research misconduct according to the Framework to Address Allegations of Research Misconduct.

“Research misconduct” refers to any research practice that deviates seriously from the commonly accepted ethics/integrity standards or practices of the relevant research community and includes but is not limited to intentional fabrication, falsification and plagiarism as defined by the University’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters.

Distinguishing Misconduct from Honest Error or Scholarly Disagreement

Communities of scholars should be prepared to embrace novel or divergent ideas and methods. Research misconduct complaints are reserved for genuine breaches of the integrity of the research process where conduct deviates from the norms of the relevant research community, not honest errors, honest differences in methodology, interpretation or judgement, or divergent paradigms in research. For honest differences in methodology, interpretation or judgement, or divergent paradigms in research, the University encourages collegial discussion and dialogue within academic or scholarly forums (e.g. symposiums, publications, or letters to the editor) as an appropriate vehicle to refine and advance research.