Research Ethics and Good Research Practice
On this page, you will find information about the support available at LTH regarding research ethics issues, information on the subject at Staff pages and links to external organisations.
General information on research ethics and good research practice
Lund University’s information on research ethics and good research practice is compiled on Staff Pages. There you can read, amongst other things, about the requirements for ethical review and for deviations from good research practice.
Your responsibilities – according to your role
Researchers have a personal responsibility to ensure that research is conducted in accordance with good research practice.
As a researcher, you adhere to good research practice when planning, conducting and reporting research. Your research findings are accurate and verifiable.
If you are carrying out research involving human subjects or the processing of personal data, you may need ethical approval. You will also need to handle personal data in a specific manner. Other authorisations may also be required.
As the head of a research team, you are responsible for ensuring that all staff with research-related duties are informed about the rules governing good research practice. You are also responsible for continuously monitoring that decisions and guidelines are being followed.
As Head of Department, you are responsible for ensuring that research leaders/group leaders, as well as principal supervisors of doctoral students, are kept informed and engaged in discussions regarding current decisions and guidelines relating to research ethics. This responsibility also includes taking active measures to create the conditions necessary for research to be conducted in accordance with good research practice.
Courses in research ethics
As a researcher, you should take the online course ‘Research Ethics for Research Staff at Lund University’ via the Competence Portal. The course is aimed at all research staff at the university, with the exception of doctoral students.
Course in research ethics for research staff at Lund University (Kompetensportalen, in Swedish)
Doctoral students undertake a compulsory two-week course in research ethics. Information about the doctoral course is provided by the respective department.
Ethical approval for research involving human subjects
If you are conducting research involving human subjects or the processing of personal data, you may need ethical approval. You can find out more about when you need to apply for approval on the Staff Pages
Applying for ethical approval on the Staff Pages.
Etikprövningsmyndigheten (The Swedish Ethical Review Authority) offers an online course on ethical review
Online course on ethical review (in Swedish) ( Etikprövningsmyndighetens website).
You can read more about the processing of personal data and data protection in research on Staff Pages
Personal data and data protection in research (Staff Pages).
Deviations from good research practice – research misconduct
Suspicions of research misconduct may be reported to Lund University or directly to the Swedish national board for assessment of reseerch misconduct (Npof). Other deviations from good research practice should be reported to Lund University.
Handling breaches of good research practice and research misconduct at Lund University (Staff Pages)
The University’s responsibilities and delegation in ethical review matters
As the entity responsible for research, Lund University has an obligation to comply with the Ethical Review Act and associated regulations. The University’s Vice-Chancellor has delegated the tasks that result from this to the faculties’ deans, with the option to subdelegate to a head of department. The responsibilities include:
- Ensuring that research requiring ethical review does not start without approval through an ethical review decision.
- Ensuing that doctoral students participate in the compulsory course on research ethics and that researchers and teaching staff receive the necessary instruction on ethical review.
- Ensuring that staff members receive information on where within the University they can seek advice on matters concerning ethical review.
- Representing the University in appeal cases and assisting the Ethics Review Appeals Board if there is a need for oversight.
The Vice-Chancellor’s decision below contains more information on the tasks delegated by the University’s Vice-Chancellor to deans:
Contact
Marcus Thern
If you require independent advice and support on matters relating to academic activities, such as publishing, authorship or research collaborations, please feel free to contact LTH’s Academic Ombudsman, Marcus Thern.
marcus [dot] thern [at] energy [dot] lth [dot] se (marcus[dot]thern[at]energy[dot]lth[dot]se)
Magnus Gudmundsson
For general enquiries regarding research ethics or breaches of good research practice, please feel free to contact Magnus Gudmundsson, Research Coordinator at Management Support.
magnus [dot] gudmundsson [at] lth [dot] lu [dot] se (magnus[dot]gudmundsson[at]lth[dot]lu[dot]se)
Related information
The researcher’s guide to compliance
The researcher’s guide to compliance (Staff Pages)
Good research practice
Vetenskapsrådets (The Swedish Research Council) publication Good Research Practice provides guidance on the ethical principles and rules that are important for research.
Good Research Practice 2024 (Vetenskapsrådets website)
The ALLEA Code
The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity serves as a guiding framework for the European research community.
The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. Revised edition, 2023 (PDF, 456 kB, new tab)