This section provides a collation of the self-reflection questions in the Good institutional practice guide (the Guide), that can be used by leaders to determine their stage of implementation of cultural change.
The Guide is designed as a resource for institutional and research leaders (hereafter referred to as leaders) seeking to promote an open, honest, supportive and respectful institutional research culture that supports the conduct of high-quality research.
The following sample self-reflection questions can be used as prompts for leaders to determine their stage of implementation of the Guide.
Role modelling and leadership
- What level of funding, support and resources (for example, administrative support, material resources) is provided for training in leadership, supervision and mentorship?
- How many staff undergo training in leadership, supervision and mentorship and to what cohorts do they belong?
- How often are the qualities and characteristics of good leaders, supervisors and mentors discussed at meetings (for example, research group meetings, faculty meetings) and in communications from leaders?
- How does the institution reward staff who display exemplary leadership values and behaviours?
- How is the institution’s requirement that its leaders model positive behaviours, attitudes, values and expectations assessed and reflected in institutional policies?
- How does the institution provide a safe environment where issues about leaders/supervisors/mentors can be raised at an early stage?
- How are leaders supporting the use of peer generative power for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers?
- How are leaders supporting and investing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ research leadership?
Institutional resources
- How have institutional policies and procedures been modified to support a positive research culture and responsible research practices?
- How do leaders encourage the use of infrastructure for supporting the conduct of high-quality research?
- How does the institution ensure that all researchers have access to support services as needed (for example, statistical advice, library services)?
- How does the institution ensure that its policies and procedures for resource allocation include consideration of the conduct of high-quality research?
- How does the institution recognise the value of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ peer generative power for producing outcomes, processes and actions, which improve the quality of research practices?
- How are manuscripts reviewed prior to their submission for publication to ensure accurate reporting?
Education and training
- What kinds of support and resources are provided for all modes of delivery of education and training (for example, expert, technical and administrative support, infrastructure, material resources, list of recommended training/tools)?
- How are the different modes of delivery used to ensure that the training is accessible, suitable, practical, engaging, relevant, implementable and meet the individual’s needs?
- How does the institution encourage and facilitate peer support for education and training about responsible research practices?
- How does the institution recognise research groups that have high engagement rates in education and training?
- What requirements for education and training in responsible research practices are included in institutional policies?
- How does your institution measure and check attainment of relevant knowledge and skills?
Rewards and recognition
- What criteria does the institution have for rewarding and recognising responsible research practices when making appointments, promotions, awards and informal peer recognition?
- Has the institution developed clear guidance for staff involved in recruitment and promotion decisions that explicitly cautions against the inappropriate use of publication metrics and encourages them to value a full and diverse range of research outputs and contributions?
- Have leaders informed researchers that hiring and promotion criteria will focus on responsible research practices and hence a diverse range of research outputs and contributions?
- How do the leaders recognise and/or reward examples of behaviours that contribute to a positive research culture, good mentorship and supervision?
- How are administrative and support units recognised and rewarded for positive contributions to the institutional research culture and support for high-quality research?
- What requirements regarding assessment criteria relevant to research quality exist in formal institutional policies for hiring and promotion?
Communication
- What sort of information and guidance on research culture and responsible research practices does the institution provide to the staff and students?
- How do leaders encourage communication between research groups/disciplines/institutions to facilitate exchange of ideas and information about following and improving research practices, particularly for interdisciplinary and collaborative research?
- How are reports about analysis of matters related to research quality within the institution disseminated to all those within the institution?
- What is the institution’s commitment to implementing internationally recognised principles that promote responsible research practices?
- To what degree does the institution make policies and procedures relevant to research culture and research practices publicly available as exemplars of good practice?
Monitoring, evaluation and reporting
- What processes does the institution have in place to monitor, evaluate and report on the progress in implementing the suggested activities outlined in the Guide?
- Who within the institution is responsible for making recommendations about allocation of resources for monitoring and evaluation, receiving reports of the outcomes of evaluation, directing implementation of the monitoring and evaluation framework, and making changes required as a consequence of the evaluation activities?
- How will the institution ensure that progress is reviewed regularly, and quality improvement opportunities are applied?
- What are the institution’s long-term commitments to conducting monitoring, evaluation and reporting efforts?