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Research integrity: A toolkit for early career researchers
Co-authored with Sense about Science
This toolkit is co-authored by Sense about Science and Taylor & Francis with input from UKRIO (U.K. Research Integrity Office). It is guided by honest questions and experiences shared by early career researchers during co-creation workshops. It addresses common questions and provides practical advice to help today's researchers avoid integrity pitfalls.
Research integrity refers to all the factors that underpin good research practice and promote trust and confidence in the research process.
It is foundational for building public trust in science. A lack of integrity undermines scientific credibility, spreading misinformation and potentially harming those who depend on reliable research findings.
Research integrity applies to:
- All disciplines and all sectors where research is carried out
- The whole research lifecycle, from the initial idea to the dissemination of findings
- The environments within which research is conducted and the values and behaviour they promote – often described as "research culture"
Empowering the next generation of researchers
To support early career researchers in navigating the ever-growing ethical challenges, we partnered with two teams of early career researchers to create practical guidance that addresses real integrity challenges throughout the research cycle.
This isn't theoretical – it's built from genuine questions, actual needs, and the pursuit of research excellence.
What you get: A straightforward toolkit that helps you establish credible research practices from the start and build a career founded on integrity and scientific excellence.
How it works: Five focused stages in your research process:
- Research design
- Conduct
- Manuscript development
- Peer review
- Dissemination
You can jump straight to the section you need using the menu at the bottom of every page.
Figure 1: Stages of the research cycle
Figure 1: Stages of the research cycle
Go to the next section of the toolkit, browse all sections below, or download the toolkit as a PDF
Acknowledgments
This guidance is produced with thanks to the early career researchers who participated in co-creation workshops or provided feedback. Their engagement and openness both underlined the need for the toolkit and directly informed its content. We are grateful to the U.K. Research Integrity Office (UKRIO) for expert advice and the source material that was modified from What is research integrity?
Material was compiled by Emily Jesper-Mir and Nita Pillai of Sense about Science.
About Taylor & Francis and Sense about Science
Taylor & Francis supports diverse communities of experts, researchers, and knowledge makers around the world to accelerate and maximize the impact of their work. We are a leader in our field, publish across all disciplines, and have one of the largest Humanities and Social Sciences portfolios. Our expertise, built on an academic publishing heritage of over 200 years, advances trusted knowledge that fosters human progress.
Sense about Science is an independent body that promotes the public interest in sound science and evidence. Founded in 2002, Sense about Science works with decision-makers, world-leading researchers, and community groups to raise the standard of evidence in public life and to ensure the public has access to the evidence behind important decisions.
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