Good Scientific Practice Guidelines (Österreichische Agentur für wissenschaftliche Integrität (ÖAWI), 2026)
From The Embassy of Good Science
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Good Scientific Practice Guidelines (Österreichische Agentur für wissenschaftliche Integrität (ÖAWI), 2026)
What is this about?
The 2026 Guideline on Good Scientific Practice published by the Austrian Agency for Research Integrity (ÖAWI) establishes the principles, standards, and institutional responsibilities that promote integrity in research and teaching in Austria. It applies to all stages of the research process from the initial idea and study design to data management, publication, peer review, supervision, and communication of research findings. The guideline is based on four core principles: reliability, honesty, respect, and responsibility, aligning with the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ALLEA, 2023).
The document defines best practices for conducting research, managing research data, determining authorship, collaborating across institutions, and carrying out fair peer review. It also provides updated guidance on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing that researchers remain accountable for AI-assisted work and must disclose its use where appropriate. Additionally, the guideline identifies forms of research misconduct, including fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, misuse of AI, ghostwriting, and unethical authorship practices. Finally, it outlines the responsibilities of research institutions to provide training, establish research ethics structures, support research data management, and ensure fair procedures for investigating suspected misconduct.Why is this important?
This guideline is important because it provides a comprehensive framework for ensuring trust, quality, and accountability in scientific research. It establishes clear principles and standards that support responsible research conduct, helping researchers produce reliable, transparent, and ethically sound results while protecting participants, collaborators, and society. The guideline also addresses emerging challenges by providing recommendations for the responsible and transparent use of artificial intelligence in research. Beyond individual researchers, it supports institutions by promoting education, mentoring, research ethics, effective research data management, and fair procedures for addressing allegations of misconduct. Together, these measures foster a culture of integrity, prevent unethical research practices, strengthen institutional responsibility, and enhance public confidence in science by promoting consistent standards of excellence across research and higher education institutions.
