This section includes definitions of terms and explanations of abbreviations used in Good institutional practice guide (the Guide).
5.1 Definitions
For the purposes of this Guide, terms are defined below.
C
Collaboration (research)
Sharing of knowledge and expertise and working together within and between teams, academic disciplines (inter- and trans-disciplinary) and institutions; as well as with the community and relevant education, policy and industry sectors.
Community
A group of people sharing a common interest (e.g. cultural, social, political, health, economic interests) but not necessarily a particular geographic association. Different types of communities are likely to have different perspectives and approaches to their involvement in research.1 (Note: ‘Research community’ is defined separately.)
Consumer
Patients and potential patients, carers, and people who use health care services. Collectively, ‘consumers’ and ‘community members’ may be referred to as ‘the public’.1
Cultural competence
The set of behaviours, attitudes and policies that enable people to work ethically and effectively in cross-cultural situations.
Cultural safety
The individual and institutional knowledge, skills, attitudes and competencies needed to deliver a safe working environment, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers, which is free of racism.2
E
Early- and mid-career researcher
Emerging scientists who are up to 15 years post-PhD (or other research higher degree) irrespective of professional appointment.3
H
High-quality research
Research that has been performed responsibly, ethically and to the highest possible standard, in accordance with international best practice principles, for the full duration of the research cycle, that is throughout the design, conduct, analysis, reporting, translation and implementation of the research. High quality research is rigorous, transparent and reproducible.
I
Indigenous data sovereignty
The right of Indigenous people to exercise ownership over Indigenous data. Ownership of data can be expressed through the creation, collection, access, analysis, interpretation, management, dissemination and reuse of Indigenous data.4
Indigenous knowledge
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Indigenous knowledge, also called Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions, is an important asset belonging to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their communities, organisations and businesses. Indigenous Knowledge can reflect and identify a community’s history, cultural and social identity, and its values.5
Institution
An institution that administers NHMRC or other health research funds and includes universities, hospitals, health services and medical research institutes that meet defined research governance requirements. Participating and administering institutions are included.
Institutional leader
Senior administrators within the institution.
L
Leaders
Institutional leaders and research leaders.
O
Open science
A set of principles and practices that aim to make scientific research from all fields accessible to everyone for the benefits of scientists and society as a whole. Open science is about making sure not only that scientific knowledge is accessible but also that the production of that knowledge itself is inclusive, equitable and sustainable.6
P
Peer generative power
The unique strength of the power generated by cohorts of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers from diverse backgrounds, arising from their shared historical experience, co-understanding of problems with health and medical research and their shared aspirations to reform it.
Q
Questionable research practices
Behaviours that have an adverse effect on the quality and trustworthiness of the research and that are not misconduct. Examples include (but are not limited to) proposing research questions that are easy to answer rather than needed, using inappropriate statistical methods and selective reporting of results.
R
Relative to opportunity
Assessment of achievements that take into account the impact of personal circumstances on a person’s productivity, their ability to participate in certain types of activities, and the consistency of activities or output over the period of consideration.7
Research
The concept of research is broad and includes the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to generate new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings. This could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative.
Research community
All those responsible for, or involved with, the conduct, administration and oversight of research.
Research culture
The behaviours, attitudes, values, expectations and norms of research communities.
Research leader
Person who leads a research team, which often includes setting the direction of the research, securing research grant funding, supervising students and postgraduate researchers, generating research outputs, liaising with stakeholders and supporting and nurturing the research careers of others.
Research quality
The way the research is planned, performed and reported, as well as the methodology, rigour and judgement applied to all aspects of the process.8
Research student
Undergraduate or postgraduate student involved with the conduct of research.
Researcher
Person (or persons) who conducts, or assists with the conduct of, research.
Responsible research practices
Behaviours a researcher can engage in at all stages of the research cycle to improve the quality and trustworthiness of the research.9
5.2 Abbreviations
Abbreviations used in this Guide are listed below.
ARRIVE
Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments
CARE
Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility and Ethics (Principles for Indigenous Data Governance)
CoARA
Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment
DORA
Declaration on Research Assessment
EMCR
Early- and mid-career researcher
FAIR
Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable
HDR
Higher degree research
KPI
Key performance indicator
NHMRC
National Health and Medical Research Council
PREPARE
Planning Research and Experimental Procedures on Animals: Recommendations for Excellence
UKRN
United Kingdom Reproducibility Network
1 National Health and Medical Research Council. Statement on consumer and community involvement in health and medical research. 2016. [Internet] Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra. Accessed 21 Nov 2024 from: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/statement-consumer-and-community-involvement-health-and-medical-research
2 AIDA Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association. AIDA’s Cultural Safety Program. [Internet] Accessed on 16 Dec 2024 from: https://aida.org.au/cultural-safety-program/
3 Australian Academy of Science. About the EMCR Forum. [Internet] Accessed 17 Dec 2024 from: https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/early-and-mid-career-researchers-0/about-the-emcr-forum
4 Commonwealth of Australia, Framework for Governance of Indigenous Data. [Internet] Accessed 7 Mar 2025 from: https://www.niaa.gov.au/resource-centre/framework-governance-indigenous-data
5 Australian Government. IP Australia. Indigenous Knowledge. [Internet]. Accessed 7 Mar 2025 from: https://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/understanding-ip/indigenous-knowledge
6 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science [updated 21 Sep 2023] [Internet] Accessed 21 Nov 2023 from https://en.unesco.org/science-sustainable-future/open-science/recommendation
7 Australian National University. Guideline: Assessing achievement relative to opportunity. Accessed 21 Nov 2023 from: https://policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/document/ANUP_018810
8 Australia’s Chief Scientist. Trust in science. Clarifying the distinctions between research integrity, research quality, excellence and impact. Office of the Chief Scientist. Australian Government. 31 July 2023. Accessed 28 Feb 2025 from: https://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/news-and-media/trust-science
9 Haven T, Gopalakrishna G, Tijdink J, van der Schot D, Bouter L. Promoting trust in research and researchers: How open science and research integrity are intertwined. BMC Res Notes. 2022;15: 302. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-022-06169-y