Online Course „Scientific Integrity“

6. Dealing with research data

and conflicts of interest
Research Data

• Measurement data
• Laboratory values
• Audiovisual information
• Texts
• Survey data
• Objects from collections or samples
• Methodological test methods (questionnaires, software, simulations)

DFG 2015
Differences between the Scientific Disciplines

„The ways of and conditions for access to research data must

be developed separately for the individual scientific
disciplines, taking into account the methods of data
acquisition, the volume and potential for integration of the
data, as well as its practical usability. At the same time, the
respective life cycles and usage scenarios of the data in the
specific research fields have to be considered.“ (Alliance of
German Science Organisations 2010:2)

Alliance of German Science Organisations 2010

Tasks in the Life Cycle of Research Data

Planning/
Creation

Access/Use Selection

Preservation Ingest/
measures Acquisition

Storage/
Infrastructure

Transl. Ludwig & Enke 2013:15

Overarching Tasks of Research Data Management

Organiza-
tion

Identifiers Costs

Metadata Rights

Transl. Ludwig & Enke 2013:16

DFG – Guidelines

Guideline 9:
Research design
Guideline 10:
Legal and ethical frameworks, usage rights
Guideline 11:
Methods and standards
Guideline 12:
Documentation
Guideline 17:
Archiving

DFG 2019
Research Data Management

Ethics Committee
Research on human beings

Animal Welfare Officer

Research on animals
Other Commissioners

Research with hazardous Technology Transfer

substances and micro- Center
organisms

Research with Copyright-

protected or patented
materials Transl. DFG Ombudsman 2009b
Cooperation in Science

Cooperation with other scientists of the same or of different fields who work:

• in the same working group

• in other working groups of the same organization
• in other scientific institutes
• in non-scientific institutions
• in industry
• in government institutions

Transl. DFG Ombudsman 2009a

RWTH „Code of Conduct“ for Dealing with Third Parties

„1. Ethical Principles of RWTH Aachen University

1.1 [...] The appreciation of others, the willingness to cooperate, and open communication between all groups
and units are important to us. [...]

2. Dealing with Collaborative Partners

2.1 The freedom of research and teaching and the independence of RWTH from the interests of third parties
are to be maintained at all times to secure scientific autonomy.
2.2 In order to meet the University’s responsibilities towards society, RWTH is obligated to publish its research
results at the appropriate time and in an appropriate form (this applies in particular to publications made as
part of doctoral projects). Third parties must agree to this principle in order to be eligible for cooperation with
RWTH.
2.3 When entering into collaborative partnerships, it is imperative that the reputation of RWTH is preserved. At
a general level, this means that the transparency of decisions must be secured. [...]

3. Dealing with Conflicts of Interest

3.1 RWTH Aachen University is a public research and educational institution. For this reason, in case of
conflicts of interest between RWTH and third parties, it is always preferable for all members of the University to
act in the public interest. [...]”

RWTH 2017
Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of interest result from the different interests, rights and obligations of the individual
scientists and the objectives/interests of organizations involved in scientific cooperation.

• Financial conflicts
• Property conflicts
• Conflicts of loyalty
• Conflicts of responsibility

Transl. DFG Ombudsman 2009a

Prevention of Conflicts of Interest

• Discuss openly about the interests

• Work out/Determine the agreements

• Document the results of agreements

• Define the areas of responsibility

• Negotiate publication rights, property rights and financial matters in the contracts

Transl. DFG Ombudsman 2009a

 References

• Alliance of German Science Organisations (2010): Principles for the Handling of Research Data, online available:
https://gfzpublic.gfz-potsdam.de/rest/items/item_4507890_1/component/file_4507888/content (Status
25.11.2020)

• Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (2015): DFG Guidelines on the Handling of Research Data, online
available:
https://www.dfg.de/download/pdf/foerderung/antragstellung/forschungsdaten/guidelines_research_data.pdf
(Status 25.11.2020)

• Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (2019): Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice. Code
of Conduct, online available:
https://www.dfg.de/download/pdf/foerderung/rechtliche_rahmenbedingungen/gute_wissenschaftliche_praxis/kod
ex_gwp_en.pdf (Status 8.12.2020)

• DFG Ombudsman (2009a): Modul Interessenkonflikte, online availbale: https://ombudsman-fuer-die-

wissenschaft.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Modul_Interessenskonflikte.pdf (Status 25.11.2020)

• DFG Ombudsman (2009b): Modul Umgang mit Daten, online available: https://ombudsman-fuer-die-
wissenschaft.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Modul_Umgang_mit_Daten.pdf (Status 25.11.2020)
References

• Ludwig, J. & Enke, H. (Hrsg.) (2013): Leitfaden zum Forschungsdaten-Management. Verlag Werner Hülsbusch,
online unter: https://univerlag.uni-goettingen.de/bitstream/handle/3/isbn-978-3-86488-032-2/leitfaden_DGRID.pdf
(Status 8.12.2020)

• RWTH Aachen (2017): RWTH „Code of Conduct“ FOR DEALING WITH THIRD PARTIES, online available:
https://www.rwth-aachen.de/global/show_document.asp?id=aaaaaaaaabdcbko (Status 25.11.2020)