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Hamburg Research Academy

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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.

Our offers

  • The Ombuds Office of University of Hamburg offers an advising service on topics related to good scientific practice at the Hamburg Research Academy. The service is available to doctoral and early career researchers from our member institutions.
  • We regularly offer workshops and information sessions on topics of good scientific practice. You can find the current dates in our course portal.

Guidelines for good scientific practice

You can read about the fundamentals of good scientific practice in the following documents:

  • German Research Foundation (DFG) Memorandum (2013): Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice [PDF] (German only) and the Code of Conduct "Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice" [PDF]
  • European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity [PDF]
  • Singapore-Statement (2010): Research Integrity [PDF]

Ombuds system

We are here to answer your questions on good scientific practice and help resolve concrete conflicts by referring cases to ombudspersons. As mediators and conflict managers, doctoral students and supervisors advise you on the legal framework conditions in academia.

The Ombuds Office assists the Ombuds Committee in carrying out its duties and serves as the first point of contact for all matters related to the issue of scientific practice and scientific misconduct. The staff at University of Hamburg's Ombuds Office can answer your questions and provide you with information on good scientific practice. They will also be happy to offer initial advice on concrete issues or problems (anonymously if necessary) without an official review by the Ombuds Committee. If you currently find yourself in a conflict situation, but do not (yet) seek intervention by an ombudsperson, you can also opt for individual coaching. This can help effectively prevent escalation of the conflict and potential scientific misconduct.   

Tips and recommendations: academic work and AI

The pages of the project Digital and Data Literacy in Teaching Lab (DDLitLab) at the University of Hamburg offer important information on generative AI in studies and teaching. They provide information on possible applications and limitations, give practical tips on tools and show what research is being conducted in the field of AI at the University of Hamburg. The information is complemented by interesting interviews and materials that enable a safe and well-informed approach to AI.