The dignity of knowledge ＜Researcher’s ethics＞― Creative ideas are the source of knowledge;
the dignity of knowledge is the responsibility to society ―We are entrusted by society “to deeply seek the truth, to create new insights and to
distribute widely the fruits to society.” That is the mission of a university with a gravesocial responsibility. When carrying out research, we should endeavor to follow
researcher’s ethics, paying particular attention to the points below, and to maintain andimprove the quality of research at the University of Tsukuba.

Prevention of improper conduct related to research
Improper conduct related to research includes fabrication, falsification or plagiarism of dataor research results in published research outlets.
Fabrication : creating data or research results that do not actually exist.
Falsification : converting research results obtained from research activities to false resultsby manipulating the modification of the research materials, the researchequipment or the research process.
Plagiarism : use of another researcher’s ideas, analysis, methods, data, research results,
research papers or terminology without obtaining the researcher’s consent
or without appropriate references to the original author.
Improper conduct related to research should not be carried out by a researcher who is seeking the truth. Improper conduct will shake public confidence in science and will hamper thedevelopment of science. Given that most research is funded by taxes, improper conduct
related to research, as well as the improper use of research funds, is socially-prohibited
behavior.

Prevention of impropriety and guaranteeing the credibility and reproducibilityof research results
Data analysis should not be carried out with preconception or a biased view, but with credibility
and objectivity. A researcher should not consider only favorable data, but should create an environment to check the data or analyzed results with research collaborators or co-authors throughopen discussions.
Citations of published data or research papers should clearly follow the rules. Improper research
includes the plagiarism of the writings of others, including information, master theses or doctoral
theses, and the citation of texts or graphic charts in research papers without indicating the proper
credit. In order to clarify the originality of the research paper, the researcher should respect
preceding studies, evaluate other researchers’ achievements properly, and cite them appropriately.
A researcher should manage research records properly and store
research data or specimens for a certain period after the submission ofa research paper. It is the researcher’s responsibility to guarantee thecredibility and reproducibility of his/her research in order to prove theresearch is scientific.
Compliance Counter for Allegations Related to Improper Conduct
Division of Research System Development,
Department of Research Promotion
http://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/research/fairness.html

Paulownia flowers
Used for Design ofSchool Emblem

Awareness of researcher’s ethics
Social responsibility of a researcher to publish the research results
A researcher should be aware that publishing research results is the duty of a researcher toward
society, in order to contribute to the accumulation of the common intellectual assets of mankind.
When a researcher becomes aware of an error in a research paper, the researcher should announce
the correction immediately. While a research paper is preserved permanently as evidence of knowledge, neglecting an error will waste other researchers’ time and efforts, and hinder the development of science.
Someone who did not actually contribute to the research should not be listed as an author of aresearch paper. An author should be responsible for the contents of a research paper.

High Ethical Standards
One should acknowledge the importance of researcher’s ethics and develop a high ethical standard
in research laboratories, in academic programs, in graduate courses, and, by the same token, in thewider researchers community. ‘Pursuit of truth’ and the ‘freedom of research’ are founded on thereliance and trust of society.
Both teachers and students should have consciousness and pride as independent researchers andstand firmly against improper conduct related to research. Turning a blind eye to improper conduct
by a research collaborator is deemed as involvement in improper research.
Regarding the possession of research results, research data or research material, and the duty ofconfidentiality related to research, a researcher should obey the content and items of any contract
made. In case of joint research, publishing one’s own data without the research collaborator’s
permission is deemed plagiarism. Offering unpublished data to a third party, in some cases, may be
a leakage of information.
Research should comply with laws and guidelines related to environmental safety, bioethics, medical ethics, conflict of interests, etc. Research should comply with necessary formalities in advanceof undertaking the research.
In the case of using research funding, a researcher should obey the rules of each research funding
system and use the funding properly.

Research by students and the instruction of research
A student, as an independent researcher, also should follow the researcher’s ethics. A student’s
degree may be revoked due to improper conduct related to research.
In the case where a student publishes improper research results, the student’s supervisor may not
only be investigated over the issue of responsibility as a joint author, but also as a supervisor or asa member of the board of the examining committee for an academic degree.
Between a supervisor and a student, not connivance, but a continued tension in research is necessary. It is vital to create an environment to exchange opinions or criticism freely about theresearch.

Feb 2009