Deviations from good research practice

Handling of deviations from good research practice

The Act on Responsibility for Good Research Practice and the Examination of Research Misconduct (2019:504) applies as of 1 January 2020. 

The act prescribes that the researcher is responsible for compliance with good research practice in their research. The University has overarching responsibility for research being conducted in accordance with good research practice.

Definition and investigation responsibility

The act defines research misconduct as fabrication, falsification or plagiarism (FFP) that is committed intentionally or through gross negligence when planning, conducting or reporting research.

In the act, FFP is referred to as serious deviation from good research practice. Suspected serious deviation from good research practice (FFP) is to be investigated by a special national board. 

Other deviations from good research practice are to be handled by Lund University.

Report

Suspected research misconduct (FFP) can be reported directly to the national board or to Lund University. 

Suspicions of other deviations from good research practice than those described above are to be reported to Lund University.

Read more about how to file a report to Lund University

The university can raise an issue of suspected deviation from good research practice that the university has become aware of in some other way.

Examination of suspected other deviations from good research practice

Suspicions of other deviations from good research practice are investigated at Lund University by a special board: Deviations from Good Research Practice Review Board. 

A preliminary investigation is conducted initially. If, after the preliminary investigation, there is reason to conduct a full investigation, the Vice-Chancellor may make a decision regarding this. 

If there are no grounds for the reported suspicion, the vice-chancellor may dismiss the matter without a preliminary investigation being conducted. 

Other deviations from good research practice can be ascertained both after the preliminary investigation and after the full investigation. Decisions are taken by the Vice-Chancellor.

Lund University’s regulations

You can read more about definitions and the handling procedure in Lund University’s regulations on the processing of matters relating to suspected deviation from good research practice.

Guidelines for the processing of matters relating to suspected deviation from good research practice at Lund University. 2022-12-15 (PDF 229 kB, new tab)