NIST Scientific Integrity Program

NIST has adopted the Federal definition of scientific integrity (below) into policy:

Scientific integrity is the adherence to professional practices, ethical behavior, and the principles of honesty and objectivity when conducting, managing, using the results of, and communicating about science and scientific activities. Inclusivity, transparency, and protection from inappropriate influence are hallmarks of scientific integrity.

Similarly, NIST uses the Federal definition of Research Misconduct in policy:

Research misconduct is defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.

• Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them. 
• Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record.
•  Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit.
• Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion.

The Scientific Integrity Program at NIST includes the Scientific Integrity and Responsible Conduct of Research sets of policies.  
 

Scientific Integrity 

It is NIST Policy to promote scientific integrity by creating a culture of personal and organizational responsibility where the practice and management of scientific research and of its products are free from personal, political or social allegiances, beliefs or interests that are not essential to the practice of science.
 

Responsible Conduct of Research

It is NIST Policy to strive for and promote excellence and rigor in its research activities by:

• Ensuring that all research conducted or supported by NIST is carried out in ways that are reproducible and that guarantee the quality and reliability of research products;
• Ensuring that the research is conducted responsibly and ethically;
• Ensuring that research products are appropriately subject to peer evaluation and open to public scrutiny; and
• Creating an environment where research is conducted ethically and where suspected incidents of non-compliant conduct are investigated and, if necessary, addressed.
   

Scientific Integrity Program Directives

• Scientific Integrity Program – policy order
• Responsible Conduct of Research – policy order
• Guidance for Authorship of Scholarly and Technical Publications
   

Scientific Integrity Program Annual Reports

• 2022 
• 2023
   

Reporting Allegations

To report or discuss possible allegations related to scientific integrity or research misconduct, contact Anne Andrews, NIST Scientific Integrity Officer at anne.andrews [at] nist.gov (anne[dot]andrews[at]nist[dot]gov) or NISTScientificIntegrity [at] nist.gov (NISTScientificIntegrity[at]nist[dot]gov).