Policy on good conduct in research

Keele University's full Code of Good Research Practice can be downloaded here

Keele University regards its primary role in research to be to assure scientific quality, skills and capacity of the research team to design and conduct research, monitoring adherence to ethical procedures and ensuring information management.

Currently, the University Research Ethics Sub-Committee independently review undergraduate and postgraduate (taught course) student projects at Departmental level.  No student projects can proceed without this ethical scrutiny and approval and this is part of the formal dissertation approval procedure. 

All matters relating to the ethics of conducting University research which are not covered by the NHS LREC/Multi-Centre Research Ethics Committee (MREC) will be reviewed by the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Ethics Committee.

The University is registered with the Information Commission under the 1998 Data Protection Act (DPA).  Staff receive copies of DPA procedures and obligations with contracts of employment and sign to be individually registered under the Act, to use health data for research.  Individual responsibilities under the DPA are outlined on the Keele staff website.  Links to Keele University 's Data Protection procedure are on the Research Governance website.

The University Computing Services Department ensures strong security systems are in place to protect confidentiality of research data.  Departments are encouraged to develop in-house systems and procedures to govern research data processing. 

The University has established procedures on identification, ownership, exploitation of and income from research. An expanded Research Services department has been established to advise and support our academic community on intellectual property rights (IPR).