Lehigh University policies and the Rules and Procedures of the Faculty set forth expectations for high standards of ethical behavior for faculty, students and others involved in research and provide procedures for addressing allegations of misconduct in research. Integrity in research includes not just the avoidance of wrongdoing, but also the rigor, carefulness and accountability that are the hallmarks of good scholarship. All persons engaged in research at the University are expected to adhere to the highest standards of intellectual honesty and integrity.
Research Misconduct is defined as Fabrication, Falsification, or Plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing Research, or in reporting Research results. Research Misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion.
Fabrication means making up data or results and recording or reporting them. Falsification means 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 is the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words, without giving proper credit. Plagiarism includes the unattributed verbatim or nearly verbatim copying of sentences and paragraphs from another's work that materially misleads the reader regarding the contributions of the author. It does not include the limited use of identical or nearly identical phrases that describe a commonly used methodology. Plagiarism does not include self-Plagiarism or authorship or credit disputes, including disputes among former collaborators who participated jointly in the development or conduct of a Research project. Self-Plagiarism and authorship disputes do not meet the definition of Research Misconduct per this Policy, but may be prohibited by other University policies, procedures, rules or regulations.
The University’s policy on Research Misconduct applies to all Research activities proposed and conducted by academic, scientific, and professional staff, employees and faculty, emeritus faculty, and students of the University, whether or not they are externally funded and irrespective of funding source, during their employment by or term of their contract with the University.
Lehigh University academic, scientific, and professional staff, employees, and students must report observed, suspected, or apparent Research Misconduct to the Research Integrity Officer (RIO). They may also be reported to the Vice Provost for Research, the Office of the General Counsel, a Chair, a Dean, or to a Program or Institute Director. Confidential and/or anonymous reports may be made to the Ethics and Compliance Hotline.
All persons engaged in research at the University are expected to adhere to the highest standards of intellectual honesty and integrity, and to refrain from engaging in Research Misconduct. All are required to report observed, suspected, or apparent Research Misconduct as outlined in the University policy on Research Misconduct. The University follows the policy on Research Misconduct and associated procedures upon receipt of an Allegation of possible Research Misconduct. Lehigh personnel shall cooperate with the Research Integrity Officer and other institutional officials in the review of Allegations and the conduct of any associated inquiries and investigations.
Lehigh University Research Misconduct website, including the University policy and associated FAQs: https://research.lehigh.edu/research-integrity/research-misconduct
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Research Integrity: https://ori.hhs.gov/