Athabasca University (AU) supports scholarly, research and creative activities, which contribute to the mission of the University and ultimately provide intellectual, social and economic benefits to society. The University is committed to the highest professional standards of scholarly research and research ethics. It acknowledges that excellence in research flourishes only in an atmosphere of free inquiry, and adopts a broad definition of research in order to include a wide range of creative and innovative scholarly activity.
AU recognises that research is fundamentally tied to the quality of its teaching, its courses and its programs. Thus, the University fosters a mutual support among teaching, research and scholarship.
In order to provide support to researchers
and to maintain integrity in the research and scholarly activities of its staff,
Athabasca University has instituted a number of policies that provide a foundation
for research practice at the University. These policies shall apply to all University
research activities. They specify the research infrastructure, policies, procedures,
standards and ethical practices of the University, for any member of staff who
undertakes research.
It is the responsibility of researchers to familiarise themselves with the contents of these policies. Misconduct in conducting or reporting research is considered to be a serious breach of academic responsibilities.
The following definitions are intended
to direct University members in their interpretation of these policies. Definitions
relevant to each have been included in the appropriate policy for reference.
Animal: For the purpose of this policy, an animal is a vertebrate.
Conflict of Interest: A conflict of interest occurs when a situation arises in which there is a divergence between the private interests of a member of the University community and that member's obligations to the University, such that an impartial observer might reasonably question whether actions or decisions taken or made by the member relating to that situation would be influenced by consideration of the member's private interest.
Dissemination: Making information publicly available.
Ethical practice: The ethical conduct of research and scholarly activities, including adherence to University policies and procedures.
Indirect costs: The overhead costs that are incurred in maintaining an environment and infrastructure for conducting research. They include utilities, building maintenance and renovation, computing services, library, and university administration (including accounting, purchasing, human resources, payroll, and facilities).
In-kind contribution: Contributions that are made by the University that help defray the costs of a research project. Such contributions are contingent on the award of a grant or contract. For example, these may include indirect costs, researcher salary and benefits that are not charged to the research project, maintenance of equipment to undertake a research project, University administration, computing services, library and other research resources.
Investigator: This is a member of the university who is engaged in research activities.
Misconduct: The general connotation of this word refers to the failure to adhere to fair and honest research procedures. An extensive definition of misconduct may be obtained from the Policy on Fraud and Misconduct in Academic Research and Scholarly Activity.
Principal Investigator: The researcher with overall responsibility for the direction of a research project, grant or contract.
Publication: Making information publicly available in a reproducible form.
Research Contract: An agreement to provide research services under specified negotiated conditions in exchange for a specific deliverable. For University purposes, contracts include letters of agreement signed by both parties, purchase orders, form contracts and contracts requiring execution under seal.
Research Grant: An award to an academic or professional staff member to support his/her ongoing research interest. Normally there are no, or only very few, conditions associated with the award. The researcher is free to decide on the course of his/her research and to use the funds accordingly subject only to the general conditions of the sponsor and the policies of the University.
Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity: The systematic investigation into and study of materials, sources, etc. in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions; an endeavour to discover new or collate old facts, etc. by the scientific study of a subject or by a course of critical investigation; the production and publication of original writing.
Researcher/Scholar: Includes all members of the University who participate in research and scholarly activities. Members of the University may include academic and non-academic staff, administrators, students, visiting or adjunct scholars, paid and unpaid research assistants, and any other person in a similar position.
Restricted Account: Funds that are received by the University may require special handling, such as the specific isolation of financial activities of a research project, restricted use of funds by a specific individual, and facilitation of use of money donated to the University for research purposes. Such accounts are also known as "Trust Accounts".
University Research Project: This constitutes the financial or non-financial study of a particular subject area or field undertaken by researchers in their capacity as members of the University, using the University's name.
Acknowledgments
Athabasca University wishes to acknowledge the influence of research-related policies used at the following Universities: Alberta, British Columbia, Brock, Calgary, Carleton, McMaster, and Ryerson.
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L. Gordon,
Office of the President, October 2002
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