If the profession itself is not prepared to express views on such issues, and where appropriate take some action to remedy abuses, others will do this for us - politicians, the Courts, international bodies such as the EC, etc. Debates about research quality may at the very least undermine confidence and credibility. At worst, they can lead to regulation, control and restrictions from outside the profession. Arbitration Service 1. This Service can be requested by any of the parties to a possible dispute, but the Service and the arbitrator suggested must be accepted by all parties before the latter starts work.
Arbitration is impossible without such agreement.
The appraisal and judgement provided by the arbitrator will deal with the adequacy of the work carried out in relation to the original research brief and Contract and to the purposes for which the findings were to be used. This will be based on the recommendations of the Professional Standards Committee. They will normally have had appropriate experience of international research. These names will be forwarded to the parties requesting arbitration. This charge will be set by Council, and amended from time to time as appropriate, on the recommendation of the Professional Standards Committee.