This section provides frequently asked questions about the Good institutional practice guide (the Guide).
- Why has NHMRC released this guidance?
This Guide has been developed to provide information and resources about good institutional practice for promoting an open, honest, supportive and respectful institutional research culture. Such a culture has been shown to support the conduct of high-quality research. The development of the Guide also meets a strategic objective under NHMRC’s Research Quality Strategy.
- Is implementation of the guidance mandatory for receiving NHMRC funding?
No. Compliance with the Guide is not mandatory.
- Does NHMRC expect institutions to implement all of the suggested activities outlined in the Guide?
No. NHMRC understands that there will be administrative, cost and/or resource burdens associated with implementation of the activities outlined in the Guide. Institutional and research leaders can choose to implement some, all or none of the activities that suit their institution’s circumstances.
- Who will use the guidance?
The Guide is written primarily for institutional and research leaders of institutions that administer NHMRC or other health research funds (for example, universities, hospitals, health services and medical research institutes, as well as participating and administering institutions). It will also be of interest to all those responsible for, or involved with, the conduct, administration and oversight of research at those institutions. However, anyone who is interested in improving their research culture may find the Guide useful.
- Why doesn’t the Guide address the roles played by other parts of the research ecosystem in influencing research culture?
The Guide is intended to provide guidance for one part of the research ecosystem, that is, leaders in research institutions. Its scope is not intended to cover other parts of the research ecosystem such as funding agencies, journals and publishers.
- What is NHMRC, as a funder, doing to promote high-quality research and positive changes to research culture?
Some examples of NHMRC initiatives to ensure quality in the research that it funds include:
- emphasising the quality, not quantity, of publications by requesting grant applicants list no more than 10 of their top publications from the last 10 years (while also accounting for career disruptions)
- supporting responsible research assessment by signing the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and actively participating in the DORA Funder discussion group, by signing the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment and by developing an action plan aligned with the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment.
- mandating the open access sharing and use of publications arising from NHMRC-funded research, immediately upon their publication, and strongly encouraging open access to research data
- championing consumer involvement, including in grant assessment, and by progressing the review of the Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research in collaboration with the Consumers Health Forum of Australia and the Department of Health and Aged Care.
- addressing sex and gender diversity in health and medical research, especially for NHMRC and MRFF funded research activities
- committing to continuous evaluation and improvement of NHMRC grant program policies, processes and outcomes
- introducing evidence-based improvements to achieve quality decision-making through peer review.
- Does the Guide provide clear links between the values and research quality and research culture?
Yes. The Guide includes examples of how the values can be put into practice to improve research quality and research culture.
- Does the Guide provide information about responsible research practices?
Yes. Examples of responsible research practices are included.
- Why doesn’t the Guide include information about reporting and addressing research integrity matters including research misconduct?
The Guide focuses on the promotion of an open, honest, supportive and respectful institutional research culture that is conducive to the conduct of high-quality research. The management of research integrity matters including research misconduct, is addressed under NHMRC’s existing framework of policies and guidelines.