Being a responsible researcher

You also have a duty to consider how the research impacts on the wider research community and on society as a whole.

Research Integrity Tutorial

You must complete the Research Integrity Tutorial on the VLE before your first TAP (Thesis Advisory Panel) meeting. If you do not have the tutorial in your VLE courses list contact integrity@york.ac.uk. 

The RIT introduces the standards expected by the University for the conduct of research, and the associated procedures that should be followed. It also covers expectations around academic integrity. The RIT is just a starting point: you should talk to your supervisor about the issues, and take advantage of the further training and support provided in your department and by the University.

Research integrity

As a researcher, you are expected to familiarise yourself and act in accordance with the University's research policy, including the Code of Practice on Research Integrity and associated policies.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval is always required if your research involves humans (even if you are just conducting interviews) or animals, but there are many other instances where ethical approval is required, for example where you, or the wider community, might be at risk from your research, or the research involves the natural environment or cultural heritage.  

You and your supervisor(s) are jointly responsible for securing ethical approval - from an internal ethics committee and, where necessary, an external body - in accordance with the Code of Practice and Principles for Good Ethical Governance - before the research commences. Confirmation of ethical approval (where needed) is required for formal reviews of progress and at the point of thesis submission. Ethical approval cannot be given retrospectively, and any data obtained prior to ethical approval cannot be used. Failing to gain ethical approval when required is research misconduct.

Academic integrity

You must not, by implication or otherwise represent the work of others as your own, represent work done in collaboration with others as your own unaided work, or present work which suggests that factual information has been collected which has not in fact been collected, or which falsifies factual information. You should pay attention to ensuring that you avoid plagiarism resulting from poor academic practice. All sources, whether published books or articles or unpublished material of any kind, must be explicitly acknowledged, and quotations or close paraphrases correctly attributed. See our guidance on academic integrity.

Text-matching software

Text-matching software such as Turnitin may be used to detect poor academic practice or plagiarism in your work. You can use Turnitin formatively to help you check your use of source material and referencing. To access formative Turnitin submission points, complete the Turnitin Originality Check Online Tutorial (PGR). If you do not have the tutorial in your VLE courses list contact integrity@york.ac.uk. 

Policy on transparency in authorship in PGR programmes

You must abide by the Policy on Transparency in Authorship in PGR Programmes which covers the use of generative AI, proof-reading and translation in submitted work.

Fair attribution guidance

You must abide by the Fair Attribution Guidance which ensures that the contributions of all research team members are appropriately and visibly recognised and attributed.

Data management

You must work with your supervisor(s) to put in place a research data management plan (if you are doing a PhD or MPhil this should be by your first formal review of progress).

Before you write your data management plan:

• Read Research data management: a practical guide.
• Complete RDM 101 (Research Data Management Tutorial) on the VLE.

You should update your data management plan as required and plan with your supervisor how your research data is to be treated once you have completed your programme (eg secure disposal or archiving and sharing via an appropriate data repository). If you have any data management questions contact the Library's Open Research team.

Open research

The University is committed to the values, principles and culture of open research. You should work with your supervisor to explore how open research practices might apply to your work. The Open Research Skills Framework can be used to identify appropriate open research practices as well as resources and training.

In line with the University’s commitment to open research, all PGR theses are made publicly available after examination, except in specific circumstances. Where you create scholarly articles during or as a consequence of your programme, you are strongly encouraged to follow the principles set out in the University’s Research Publications and Open Access Policy. For more information or help contact the Library’s Open Research team.

Use of generative artificial intelligence in PGR programmes

For universities, generative AI (artificial intelligence) presents huge opportunities but also potential harms, including unintended consequences. Read our Guidance on the use of generative AI in PGR programmes.