Attitudes and knowledge on research integrity among first- and second-year research postgraduate students in HKU

Abstract

As part of the coursework training for basic knowledge on research skills and methods, all MPhil and 4-year PhD students in HKU are required to pass a faculty-based research ethics course by the end of the probationary period (i.e. first 12 months for full-time MPhil students and first 18 months for full-time PhD students who do not have an MPhil degree). The research ethics course is twelve hours in total, and classes normally include a brief lecture and an in-class, case-based discussion. Around 700 students take the course every year. A study is being undertaken at HKU to evaluate first- and second-year research postgraduate students’ attitude towards and knowledge about research integrity, and whether there is any change in their attitude and awareness after taking the ethics course. At the beginning of the course, students will be asked to complete the first part of the questionnaire. They will be asked to indicate their knowledge of some RI concepts and whether they think that these issues are important. At the end of the course, similar questions will be asked again and students will also be invited to indicate whether they have discussed these issues with their supervisor, and whether they have been involved in or heard about any questionable research practices/research misconduct in the University. The data will be collected in the 2016/17 academic year. The results of the survey, as well as the initial recommendations arising from the results, will be presented at the conference. The data collected will also be considered by the University for infrastructure building and planning of future RI initiatives.