Insights from the literature review on behavioural ethics, moral psychology & case-based methodologies and review of real-life case studies of research misconduct

The first part of this deliverable is a scoping review of the literature examining 147 articles published 
in peer review academic journals over the past ten years (2013-2023) on the promotion of research 
ethics and integrity (REI), and breaches of these standards including research misconduct (RM) and 
questionable research practices (QRPs). It also identifies current challenges, gaps in knowledge and 
practice, and opportunities for both further research, and policy and educational interventions to 
promote REI and mitigate RM and QRPs. Findings on state-of-the-art knowledge in REI research 
suggest some areas of consensus, including on the greater risks for early career researchers to commit 
RM and the value of responsible conduct of research (RCR) training, particularly approaches that 
emphasize ethical problem-solving skills. However, the study also identified a lack of consensus in 
other areas, including the rehabilitation and reintegration of researchers who committed RM. Key 
findings extracted from the review contribute to the understanding that the environment in which 
researchers operate and other contextual factors significantly influence RCR, rather than primarily the 
individual behavior of researchers. As such, these environmental and contextual factors require further 
research and policy attention. 
The second part reports the findings of a review of real-life cases on REI, RM and QRPs. This review 
provides an in-depth qualitative evaluation of 23 cases that have appeared in the news media in the last 
five years across four partner countries within the BEYOND consortium – Estonia (3 cases), Latvia (5 
cases), the Netherlands (9 cases) and the UK (6 cases). It thematically analyses these cases in relation 
to reporting and whistle-blowing, gender aspects (including discrimination, sexual harassment, and 
other forms of gender-based violence) and researcher working conditions, and identifies several novel 
and emerging factors affecting REI. Significant findings from this review include: the increasingly 
complex gender dimensions of REI in contemporary research; the changing nature of senior 
researchers’ responsibility for RM; the roles of social media and online platforms in uncovering and 
publicizing RM; and the growing politicization of REI concerns in relation to wider political 
controversies. The review uses these findings to suggest evidence-based practical interventions to 
better monitor and prevent RM and QRPs, and offers recommendations for further research based on 
gaps identified in its analysis