Desirable attitudes in research practice

Abstract

Research integrity programs have become a familiar part of the research practice, as it has become a requirement for competitive funding applications. There are also many research integrity materials available that are useful in conducting biomedical research. On the other hand, we have continuous cases of research misconduct. Considering that research misconduct has no value for researchers who are motivated to expand human knowledge and develop new therapeutic approaches, a certain kind of research environment might distort such motivation. The changes in research assessment brought about by a competitive research climate and the problems inherent in life science research could induce research misconduct. The scientific norms proposed by a sociologist, Merton (communism, universalism, disinterestedness, and organized skepticism) is an important philosophy to reacknowledge good research practice. It is crucial for researchers, who are expected to contribute to society as professionals, to have Mertonian norms in order to gain the trust of society.