How to combine rules and commitment in fostering research integrity?

Research integrity (RI) is crucial for producing research that is trustworthy and of high quality. Rules are important in setting RI standards, improving research practice and fostering responsible research practices. At the same time, rules can lead to increased bureaucracy, which without commensurate increased commitment amongst researchers towards RI is unlikely to lead to more responsible research behavior. In this paper, we explore the question: How can rules and commitment be combined to foster RI? There are three ways that research institutions can govern RI: markets (governing through incentives), hierarchies or bureaucracies (governing through rules), and network processes (governing through commitment and agreement at group level). Based on Habermas’ Theory of Communicative Action, we argue that network processes focusing on consensus, as part of the lifeworld, are necessary to legitimize and support systems, i.e. market and bureaucratic modes of governance. We analyze the institutional response to a serious RI case to illustrate how network processes can create a context in which rules can foster RI. Specifically, we analyze how the Science Committee established at Tilburg University in 2012 has navigated and combined different modes of governance to foster RI. Based on this case analysis, we formulate recommendations to research institutions on how to combine rules and commitment

How do scientists perceive the current publication culture? A qualitative focus group interview study among Dutch biomedical researchers.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biomedical scientist's perception of the prevailing publication culture. DESIGN: Qualitative focus group interview study. SETTING: Four university medical centres in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Three randomly selected groups of biomedical scientists (PhD, postdoctoral staff members and full professors). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main themes for discussion were selected by participants. RESULTS: Frequently perceived detrimental effects of contemporary publication culture were the strong focus on citation measures (like the Journal Impact Factor and the H-index), gift and ghost authorships and the order of authors, the peer review process, competition, the funding system and publication bias. These themes were generally associated with detrimental and undesirable effects on publication practices and on the validity of reported results. Furthermore, senior scientists tended to display a more cynical perception of the publication culture than their junior colleagues. However, even among the PhD students and the postdoctoral fellows, the sentiment was quite negative. Positive perceptions of specific features of contemporary scientific and publication culture were rare. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the current publication culture leads to negative sentiments, counterproductive stress levels and, most importantly, to questionable research practices among junior and senior biomedical scientists

Perspectives on reasons for suicidal behaviour and recommendations for suicide prevention in Kenya: qualitative study

Background: Little is known about the reasons for suicidal behaviour in Africa, and communities’ perception of suicide prevention. A contextualised understanding of these reasons is important in guiding the implementation of potential suicide prevention interventions in specific settings. Aims: To understand ideas, experiences and opinions on reasons contributing to suicidal behaviour in the Coast region of Kenya, and provide recommendations for suicide prevention. Method: We conducted a qualitative study with various groups of key informants residing in the Coast region of Kenya, using in-depth interviews. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and translated from the local language before thematic inductive content analysis. Results: From the 25 in-depth interviews, we identified four key themes as reasons given for suicidal behaviour: interpersonal and relationship problems, financial and economic difficulties, mental health conditions and religious and cultural influences. These reasons were observed to be interrelated with each other and well-aligned to the suggested recommendations for suicide prevention. We found six key recommendations from our thematic content analysis: (a) increasing access to counselling and social support, (b) improving mental health awareness and skills training, (c) restriction of suicide means, (d) decriminalisation of suicide, (e) economic and education empowerment and (f) encouraging religion and spirituality. Conclusions: The reasons for suicidal behaviour are comparable with high-income countries, but suggested prevention strategies are more contextualised to our setting. A multifaceted approach in preventing suicide in (coastal) Kenya is warranted based on the varied reasons suggested. Community-based interventions will likely improve and increase access to suicide prevention in this study area