Good scientific practice
Having a good academic working style means preparing and publicly presenting your findings and newly acquired knowledge in a well-structured manner. This process must be transparent and understandable.
What, however, does “good” mean in the context of scientific practice? The German Research Foundation (DFG) examined this question in great detail in 1997 following a striking case of scientific misconduct. It then formulated the principles of good scientific practice in the form of binding written rules. These rules outline the fundamentals of correct scientific conduct and provide you with a summary of the most important guidelines for writing your research work or supervising young researchers.
The fundamentals of good scientific practice are based on values such as honesty, openness, and transparency. Compliance with these rules is essential for conducting your research project correctly and arriving at results that are acceptable to the scientific community.
Good scientific practice governs:
- How to handle data, sources, and material correctly as well as how to address storage issues.
- How to gather data in an understandable and transparent manner and document it effectively.
- How to correctly handle the intellectual property of others and your own preliminary work.
- How to handle your own authorship and, if applicable, the authorship of your staff in joint publications.
- How to engage in scientific cooperation in working groups and research projects.
- Your rights and obligations as a student under supervision and as a supervisor.
We would like to help you become familiar with the standards of good scientific practice at the higher education institutions in Hamburg before you embark on your academic career.