Section 1 describes values that support an open, honest, supportive and respectful research culture that is conducive to the conduct of high-quality research. Section 2 discusses the key elements integral to shaping research culture.

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1. Values

The values that underpin an institution’s research culture serve as a guide for all those responsible for, or involved with, the conduct, administration and oversight of research. They influence people’s attitudes and actions, encourage them to work towards common goals and help them to maintain consistent standards.

This section describes values that support an open, honest, supportive and respectful research culture that is conducive to the conduct of high-quality research.

Many institutions will already have a set of values that underpin their culture. Leaders are encouraged to consider how the values outlined in this Guide align with, or might strengthen, their existing institutional values and how they may be applied to the institution’s research culture.

1.1 Care

Care for self and others means respecting, recognising and valuing the network of relationships in which research takes place, and the people and other animals in research situations. It includes stewardship of resources, prioritising sustainability of research career paths, and minimising environmental impact. For senior researchers, it also means effectively and compassionately mentoring and supporting research students and EMCRs as well as making the research work environment psychologically and physically safe for all members of their teams.

Members of the research community should care for colleagues, research participants and themselves, for animals in research and for the environment; and take responsibility for establishing and maintaining collegiality.

1.2 Collaboration

Collaboration and working cooperatively encourages the debate of new ideas, the incorporation of multiple perspectives into the research effort, and an increase in the transparency and openness of research processes.

Members of the research community should embrace collaboration 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.

1.3 Ethics and integrity

Behaving ethically and with integrity is more than simply doing the right thing. It involves acting with an abiding respect and concern for one’s research colleagues, research participants, the wider community, animals and the environment. It also involves actions to maintain and improve reliability, honesty, respect, and accountability in the research domain.

Members of the research community should uphold the highest standards of research ethics and integrity and be committed to the responsible and ethical conduct of research.

1.4 Intellectual freedom

Intellectual freedom is supported when the research culture values free expression of ideas and the open exchange of opinions.

Researchers should be free to explore and express ideas in a supportive research environment. They should also be encouraged and supported to participate in open scientific debate and critique as it can serve to strengthen the research effort.

1.5 Respect for others

Respect for others is a fundamental ethical value. A respectful research culture includes ensuring research environments are free from bullying and harassment for people at all career stages; recognising the rights and heritage of colleagues and research participants; prioritising cultural safety, responsiveness and humility; and recognising, valuing and investing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers, their cultural heritage, experience, and perspective.

Members of the research community should seek opportunities to enhance workforce equity, diversity and inclusion, making research environments accessible and accommodating to all, including people with different abilities and lived experience, ancestry, preferred language, faith, sex, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.

1.6 Transparency

Transparency in research occurs when research findings, supporting data and enabling methodologies are shared and communicated openly, responsibly and accurately.1

Transparency in research makes research processes more efficient, productive and reliable, and increases the public’s trust in research processes and findings. it also helps to address global and local inequalities by extending the reach of the research benefit and assisting under-resourced researchers.

Members of the research community should ensure that all aspects of research are transparent.

2. Elements that shape research culture

This section builds on the values outlined in Section 1 that support an open, honest, supportive and respectful research culture. The key elements identified as being integral to shaping research culture, and the desired outcomes from implementation of this Guide for each element, are outlined in Table 1.

Table 1. Key elements that shape research culture
ElementDescriptionDesired outcomes
Role modelling and leadershipModelling of behaviour that is positive and values based, and promotes reflection, collegiality and responsible research practice including open science.

Leaders model positive behaviours, attitudes, values and expectations, including:

  • caring for researchers and all research team members
  • encouraging collaboration, equity and sustainability of research career paths
  • fostering and supporting the careers of research students and EMCRs.
Institutional resourcesAllocation of resources to support the conduct of high-quality research.

Leaders provide adequate support, or access to appropriate external support, for conducting high-quality research. Such support includes:

  • expert and technical advice
  • methodological input and support
  • administrative support
  • material resources.
Education and trainingProvision of effective and continuing education and training of researchers about responsible research practices.
  • Leaders support and promote effective and continuing education and training of researchers about responsible research practices.
  • Researchers have the knowledge and skills essential for the conduct of high-quality research.
  • Leaders value time spent on education and training about responsible research practices.
Rewards and recognitionReward and recognition of practices and activities that maximise the quality of research.
  • Criteria for assessment of researchers (for example hiring, promotion, rewards and recognition) include the recognition of efforts that promote a positive research culture, and measures that recognise the diversity of research activities, practices and outputs that maximise the quality of research.
  • Criteria and evaluation processes for assessment, rewards and recognition are transparent.
  • Individuals and groups in administrative and support units who make positive contributions to an open, honest, supportive and respectful research culture are recognised and rewarded.
CommunicationAvailability and support for implementation of institutional policies and procedures about research culture and responsible research practices.
  • Staff are aware of, and understand, how the institution’s policies and procedures help to shape a research culture that is conducive to the conduct of high-quality research.
  • Information is publicly available about the institution’s policies and procedures relevant to research culture and responsible research practices.
Monitoring, evaluation and reportingProcesses to monitor, evaluate and report on progress in implementing the activities suggested in this Guide.

Institutions have processes in place to:

  • monitor, evaluate and report on their progress in implementing the suggested activities outlined in this Guide
  • regularly review this progress over time
  • Implement recommendations on how to improve progress.

1 NHMRC Open Access Policy, Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council (2022). Accessed 28 Feb 2025 from: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/news-centre/revised-open-access-policy-released