Research Misconduct

Effective: January 1, 2012
Updated/Revised: January 1, 2026
Contact: Office of General Counsel

Contents

Introduction
Policy Statement
Reporting
Scope of Policy
Definitions
Procedures
Resources

Introduction

Iowa State University is committed to upholding the highest standards of scientific rigor and integrity in research and fostering an environment that promotes the responsible conduct of research, discourages research misconduct, and deals promptly with allegations or evidence of possible research misconduct.

In a community of scholars dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and truth, conduct that compromises research integrity undermines the advancement of knowledge, erodes public support, wastes resources and may jeopardize safety and health. All members of the Iowa State University community are expected to conduct research with honesty, rigor, and transparency. In addition, federal policies and regulations require, as a condition of eligibility for funding, that the university have policies to investigate research misconduct and, when found, to take corrective action.

The university strives to reduce the risk of research misconduct, support all good-faith efforts to report suspected misconduct, promptly and thoroughly address all allegations of research misconduct, and seek to rectify the scientific record and/or restore researchers’ reputations, as appropriate. top

Policy Statement

Iowa State University prohibits research misconduct as defined in this policy and in applicable sponsor policies. The university is committed to addressing allegations and findings of such misconduct in accordance with the applicable policies and procedures when responding to allegations of research misconduct.

The policy incorporates definitions and procedures set forth in the Office of Science and Technology’s Federal Research Misconduct Policy, as well as the Public Health Services (PHS) Policies on Research Misconduct, as of 2024. When appropriate, relevant sponsor policies and federal will be considered in making determinations under this policy.

Reporting

All members of the university community are encouraged to report observed, suspected, or apparent research misconduct to Iowa State University’s Research Integrity Officer through email rio@iastate.edu or anonymously to ISU’s Confidential Hotline (515-294-7119). Upon receipt of such reports, the Research Integrity Officer shall review the information in accordance with this policy, applicable sponsor policies, and federal regulations.

Individuals who are unsure whether a situation falls within the definition of research misconduct are encouraged to contact the Research Integrity Officer for guidance.

Scope of Policy

This policy applies to faculty, staff, students, postdoctoral scholars and fellows, and others conducting university research activities alleged to have engaged in research misconduct. This policy may also apply to former faculty, staff, students, postdoctoral scholars and fellows, and others who carried out university research activities, provided the alleged research misconduct occurred during their period of affiliation with the university.

In certain circumstances, the Research Integrity Officer may determine it is appropriate to address the allegations of research misconduct through other university policies or procedures. For example, the Research Integrity Office will generally refer allegations of research misconduct against undergraduate students who are not engaged in federally funded research to the Office of Student Conduct.

Allegations of research misconduct reported more than six years after the alleged misconduct occurred will not be addressed through this policy unless the Research Integrity Officer determines that special circumstances warrant otherwise. Such circumstances may include:

• Continued or renewed use of fabricated, falsified, or plagiarized research records by the respondent within the six-year period.
• Situations where the alleged misconduct, if substantiated, could have a significant adverse impact on public health or safety. top

Definitions

Research misconduct means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research or in reporting research results. It also includes ordering, advising or suggesting that subordinates engage in research misconduct. The misconduct must depart significantly from accepted practices of the relevant research community and must be committed intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly. It does not include honest error or differences of opinion.

Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them.

Falsification is 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 appropriate 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.

Intentionally means to act with the aim of carrying out the act. 

Knowingly means to act with awareness of the act.

Recklessly means to propose, perform, or review research, or report research results, with indifference to a known risk of fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism.

Research Integrity Officer (RIO) is the individual appointed by the Vice President for Research to manage research misconduct cases for the university in accordance with the university’s written policies and procedures for addressing allegations of research misconduct

Sponsor means any eternal entity, including, but not limited to, a company, agencies of the U.S. federal and state governments, foundations and industry associations, and others that support the work upon which the allegation is based.  top

Procedures

For important procedures on the application of the Research Misconduct Policy, see the online Procedures document.

Resources