Quality and ethical research requires adherence to the highest standards of integrity in proposing, conducting and reporting research. Misconduct in research is a serious ethical and legal issue. UCR faculty, students and staff are encouraged to review and consult with the Policy and Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Research Misconduct.

Research Misconduct means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.

• Fabrication - making up data or results and recording or reporting them

• Falsification - manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record

• Plagiarism - appropriating another person's ideas, processes, results or words without giving appropriate credit

UCR faculty, staff and students have a responsibility to immediately report any observed or suspected research misconduct or regulation/policy violation to their supervisors, the chair or chief administrators of their departments, the deans/directors of their units. UCR's Research Integrity Officer (RIO) is Rodolfo Torres, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development.

If an allegation is reported to anyone other than the ARIO or the RIO, that person should then report the allegation to the ARIO. If you are unsure whether a particular incident or practice constitutes research misconduct or a regulation/policy violation, you can contact the ARIO to discuss the matter. If you wish to discuss the matter with someone confidentially, you can contact the UCR Ombudsperson. Alternatively, questions or allegations can be directed to EthicsPoint, an independent agency that will maintain confidentiality while routing the report to the proper individuals at the University.
 

Where can I find additional information?

You can find more information in the Research Misconduct (RM) Allegations section of the ORI Resources Page.