review

8 Rules for Good Research Practice

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As a researcher, it is important to understand good research practices and to make sure to adhere to them. This article will delve into each of the eight rules proposed by the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet, 2017) for good research practice and provide examples of how to apply them in your own research.

  • 1. To tell the truth about one’s research. This means being honest and open about the methods and results of your research. It also means not making false claims or manipulating data to fit a desired outcome. To ensure that your research is truthful, make sure to accurately record your data and to clearly explain any methods or results that are not obvious. It is also important to keep an open mind when conducting research; be willing to question your own assumptions and consider alternative explanations.
  • 2. To consciously review and report the basic premises of one’s studies. When conducting research, it is important to be aware of the assumptions and premises of your work. Make sure to clearly explain why you are conducting the research, what results in you expect, and how the research will be used. This will help to ensure that the research is conducted in a sound and ethical manner.
  • 3. To openly account for one’s methods and results. When conducting research, it is important to clearly explain the methods and results that were used in the study. This includes explaining the rationale behind the methods, the results that were obtained, and any limitations or weaknesses that were encountered. Doing so will help to make sure that the research is conducted in an ethical manner and that the results are accurate and meaningful.
  • 4. To openly account for one’s commercial interests and other associations. When conducting research, it is important to be aware of any financial or other interests that may affect the results of the study. Make sure to disclose any potential conflicts of interest, such as funding sources, collaborations, or affiliations. This will help to ensure that the research is conducted in an ethical manner and that the results are unbiased.
  • 5. To not make unauthorized use of the research results of others. When conducting research, it is important to respect the intellectual property of others. Make sure to properly cite any sources that you use and to get permission before using the research results of others. Doing so will help to ensure that you are not infringing on the rights of others and will help to protect your own work from potential misuse.
  • 6. To keep one’s research organized, for example, through documentation and filing. When conducting research, it is important to keep track of the data and results that you obtain. Make sure to keep accurate records and to store data in a secure manner. Doing so will help to ensure that the research is conducted in an orderly and ethical manner and will help to protect the integrity of the research.
  • 7. Striving to conduct one’s research without doing harm to people, animals, or the environment. When conducting research, it is important to be aware of the potential consequences of the study. Make sure to consider any ethical implications of the research and to take necessary steps to minimize any potential risks or harms. This will help to ensure that the research is conducted ethically and with respect for the rights of participants, animals, and the environment.
  • 8. To be fair in one’s judgement of others’ research. When conducting research, it is important to be aware of the potential biases that may influence one’s judgement. Make sure to consider the context of the research and to keep an open mind when evaluating the work of others. Doing so will help to ensure that your own research is conducted in an ethical manner and that the results are reliable.

In conclusion, it is important for researchers to be aware of and adhere to the ethical guidelines and principles of good research practice. By understanding and following these eight rules proposed by the Swedish Research Council, researchers can ensure that their work is conducted in an ethical and responsible manner.

The Right Way to Review a Scholarly Manuscript for a Journal

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A manuscript is a document that is submitted to a publisher for publication as a book, article, or other type of written work. A journal article is a piece of writing that is published in a scholarly journal.

To be indexed, the scholarly journal must have been examined by experts in the field as well as independent scholars who are not affiliated with the authors’ institution(s). The criterion for inclusion can differ from one journal to another.

Reviewing a manuscript.

Reviewers are supposed to provide authors with constructive feedback. They should discuss what is good about the manuscript, i.e., its strengths, and how it could be improved, i.e., its weaknesses. As far as possible, reviewers should refrain from passing judgment on how good or awful they believe the work is, instead focusing on what areas of content are well implemented and which could use better. When reviewing a manuscript, I tend to follow the three-step procedure described below.

First, I read the entire manuscript and jot down any remarks that come to mind as a result of the reading. Following that, I generate questions regarding the language, such as what appears to be confusing or unclear, and whether sections of the text may be enhanced or expanded upon. Aspects I focus on include the manuscript’s: structure and content; novelty, originality, and empirical validity; use of suitable methodology; and clarity and precision of communication. Finally, I draft comments in the form of questions and editing suggestions for the authors but also keeping in mind the intended audience of the manuscript.

Peer review is an important aspect of the scholarly process since it ensures that published work meets standards of quality and originality. However, peer review takes time and can be difficult to implement on a large scale.

If you wish to learn more about reviewing scholarly publications, please contact me or leave a comment below. Also, if you are an author and you need a reviewer for your manuscript, you are welcome to get in touch.