What does "scientific integrity" in research entail?

Scientific integrity in research is fundamentally about maintaining ethical and professional standards throughout the scientific process. This concept includes a commitment to honesty, transparency, and accountability in the design, conduct, and reporting of research. Researchers are expected to produce work that is trustworthy and credible, ensuring that their findings contribute positively to the body of knowledge without deception or bias.

Maintaining ethical standards involves rigorous adherence to ethical guidelines governing research involving human and animal subjects, proper data management and analysis, and avoidance of plagiarism and misconduct. By ensuring that research is conducted with integrity, the credibility and reliability of scientific findings are upheld, benefitting the scientific community and society as a whole. Thus, the emphasis on ethical and professional standards encapsulates what scientific integrity truly represents in the context of research.