“The purpose of this document is to set out a basic policy on misconduct in research, to encourage initiatives by researchers, the scientific community, and research institutions to prevent such misconduct, and to present guidelines on measures to be taken in advance by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), research funding organizations, and institutions conducting research that will enable each of these institutions to deal appropriately with misconduct.
Misconduct in scientific research violates the very essence of science, which is a careful, continual pursuit of truth aimed at creating new knowledge. Such misconduct is a disgrace that cannot be tolerated since it undermines public faith in science and hinders scientific progress. A researcher who betrays science in this way negates the significance of his or her own existence as a researcher, causing loss of trust in the scientific community.
Everyone involved in scientific research must be aware that their activity is dependent on the trust of and mandate from the public, and that any diminution or loss of that trust and mandate undermines the very foundation of scientific research. The need to ensure the propriety of research activities is all the stronger when research and development are conducted using public funds, received even in the face of severe budgetary constraints based on the trust of and mandate from the public as an investment in the future.
Scientific research today is becoming increasingly specialized, drawing on ever more complex and diverse research methods and techniques. As scientific results and knowledge grow exponentially it is difficult even for researchers themselves to keep abreast of each other’s research activities, making it more important than ever for researchers to carry out their work properly.” Find out more.