ForewordPreamble

Principles

Guideline 1: Commitment to the general principlesGuideline 2: Professional ethicsGuideline 3: Organisational responsibility of heads of research institutionsGuideline 4: Responsibility of the heads of research work unitsGuideline 5: Dimensions of performance and assessment criteriaGuideline 6: Ombudspersons

Research Process

Guideline 7: Cross-phase quality assuranceGuideline 8: Stakeholders, responsibilities and rolesGuideline 9: Research design

 

Guideline 10: Legal and ethical frameworks, usage rightsGuideline 11: Methods and standardsGuideline 12: DocumentationGuideline 13: Providing public access to research resultsGuideline 14: AuthorshipGuideline 15: Publication mediumGuideline 16: Confidentiality and neutrality of review processes and discussionsGuideline 17: Archiving

Non-Compliance with Good Research Practice, Procedures

Guideline 18: Complainants and respondentsGuideline 19: Procedures in cases of alleged research misconductImplementation of the Guidelines
ForewordPreamblePrinzipienGuideline 1: Commitment to the general principlesGuideline 2: Professional ethicsGuideline 3: Organisational responsibility of heads of research institutionsGuideline 4: Responsibility of the heads of research work unitsGuideline 5: Dimensions of performance and assessment criteriaGuideline 6: OmbudspersonsForschungsprozessGuideline 7: Cross-phase quality assuranceGuideline 8: Stakeholders, responsibilities and rolesGuideline 9: Research designGuideline 10: Legal and ethical frameworks, usage rightsGuideline 11: Methods and standardsGuideline 12: DocumentationGuideline 13: Providing public access to research resultsGuideline 14: AuthorshipGuideline 15: Publication mediumGuideline 16: Confidentiality and neutrality of review processes and discussionsGuideline 17: ArchivingNichtbeachtung guter wissenschaftlicher Praxis, VerfahrenGuideline 18: Complainants and respondentsGuideline 19: Procedures in cases of alleged research misconductImplementation of the Guidelines
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Guideline 6

Ombudspersons

HEIs and non-HEI research institutions appoint at least one independent ombudsperson to whom their members and employees can turn with questions relating to good research practice and in cases of suspected misconduct. They take sufficient care to ensure that people are aware of who the ombudspersons at the institution are. For each ombudsperson there must be a designated substitute in case there is any concern about conflicts of interest or in case the ombudsperson is unable to carry out his or her duties.

Explanations:

Ombudspersons may not serve as members of a central governing body of their institutions while serving in this role. An ombudsperson has a set term of office. A further term of office is permissible. Researchers who are persons of integrity and who have management experience are eligible to be selected as ombudspersons. As neutral and qualified contact persons, they advise on issues relating to good research practice and in suspected cases of scientific misconduct and, where possible, contribute to solution-oriented conflict mediation. Ombudspersons maintain confidentiality in dealing with queries and, if necessary, notify the responsible body at their institution, normally an investigating committee, in the event of suspected cases of misconduct. HEIs and non-HEI research institutions give ombudspersons the support and acceptance they need to carry out their duties. Institutions may initiate additional measures to help facilitate the work of an ombudsperson. HEIs and non-HEI research institutions incorporate in their regulations a right of choice that enables members and employees to contact their institution’s ombudsperson or the national German Research Ombudsman. The German Research Ombudsman is an independent body that provides advice and support on issues relating to good research practice and allegations of inappropriate conduct.

Further links on ombudsperson matters

Disclaimer: The selection of links provided here does not claim to be exhaustive. They are examples. The editors welcome suggestions for the inclusion of further examples.

Overview of ombudspersons

List of local ombudspersons at higher education institutions (available in German only)Ombudspersons at the Fraunhofer Institutes (available in German only)Ombudspersons at the Helmholtz CentresOmbudspersons at the member institutions of the Leibniz Association

Workshops for ombudspersons

Information on the workshop “Mediation and conflict management for ombudspersons”

Support for ombudspersons

Ombudspersons can contribute significantly to resolving or de-escalating conflicts in research. What are their responsibilities, who determines what these are and how can ombudspersons prepare for their important work? These questions are answered in the “Starter pack for ombudspersons”.
Starter pack for ombudspersons – a practical guide (available in German only)

Handout for ombudspersons

The Network of Ombudspersons in Science and the Humanities has developed a handout for ombudspersons to support them in carrying out their tasks. The handout provides information on GRP-relevant documents and committees as well as on networking opportunities for ombudspersons. In addition, practical aspects of ombudsman work, e.g. counselling and mediation in GRP conflicts, are dealt with in detail. The handout is aimed at ombudspersons at Higher education institutions and non-HEI research institutions in Germany. The handout is available as a sample template and can be adapted to institution-specific regulations and instructions. The handout is available in German only.
Handout for ombudspersons (DOI)Handout for ombudspersons (word version)

The German Research Ombudsman

The German Research Ombudsman is available to all researchers – directly and independently of any connection with the DFG – for advice and support in matters of good research practice and its violation through scientific dishonesty. The German Research Ombudsman was established in 1999 by the DFG Senate as an independent body in accordance with Recommendation 16 of the white paper “Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice”.
German Research Ombudsman websiteDFG – Explanations relating to the German Research OmbudsmanAnnual reports of the German Research Ombudsman (available in German only)

ENRIO Handbook on Whistleblower Protection in Research

The European Network of Research Integrity Officers (ENRIO) has published a handbook with recommendations on how to protect whistleblowers in research. The handbook is aimed at research institutions wishing to set up a whistleblowing system, at researchers considering reporting a suspicion of scientific misconduct, and at the interested public.
ENRIO Handbook on Whistleblower Protection in Research

Information on how to proceed in cases of suspected research misconduct

Procedural Guide to Good Research Practice (available in German only)

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ombudsperson

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