Research ethics is regulated through a set of laws, regulations, guidelines and norms.
The University is primarily responsible for ensuring that research is conducted in accordance with these regulations, and has established a committee to build a culture of good research ethics and follow up possible violations of research ethics norms.
Committees at UiB
The Research Ethics Committee
The Research Ethics Committee is the University’s highest institutional body for handling of cases of possible breaches research ethical standards and allegations of misconduct.
The Research Ethics Committee is appointed by the University Board and consists of the Viece-Rector as chairperson and four members with expertise in research, research ethics and law, one of whom is not an employee at UiB.
The committee’s mandate is twofold:
- The committee shall contribute to promoting good research practice and preventing research misconduct through academic events such as conferences and seminars that deal with current research ethics issues.
- The committee shall process cases concerning possible violations of recognised research ethics norms.
Local research ethics committees
National bodies
The National Research Ethics Committees is an independent professional body affiliated with the Ministry of Education and Research. The committees have drawn up research ethics guidelines that codify recognised values, norms and practices that form the basis for all research. The guidelines are intended to promote ethical reflection among researchers and in the research community.
Read more about The National Research Ethics Committees on forskningsetikk.no (external link)
The National Research Ethics Committees consists of the following professional, independent committees:
- National Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics
- National Committee for Research Ethics in Science and Technology
- National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities
- National Commission for the Investigation of Research Misconduct
- National Committee for Research Ethics on Human Remains
National Commission for the Investigation of Research Misconduct
The National Commission for the Investigation of Research Misconduct is organised under the National Research Ethics Committees, and represents a national resource for institutions in the university and university college sector for processing cases involving research misconduct.
The commission is a supplement to UiB’s own bodies. As a research institution, UiB, just like the rest of the sector, must report processed cases to the National Commission for the Investigation of Research Misconduct. The commission also serves as an appeals body for cases where the Research Ethics Committee has conluded with research ethical misconduct.