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Joynson C, Leyser O. The culture of scientific research. F1000Res. 2015;4:66doi: 10.12688/f1000research.6163.1.
Joynson, C., & Leyser, O. (2015). The culture of scientific research. F1000Research, 466. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.6163.1
Joynson, Catherine, and Leyser, Ottoline. "The culture of scientific research." F1000Research vol. 4 (2015): 66. doi: https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.6163.1
Joynson C, Leyser O. The culture of scientific research. F1000Res. 2015 Mar 13;4:66. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.6163.1. eCollection 2015. PMID: 25866623; PMCID: PMC4376168.
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F1000Res. 2015 Mar 13;4:66. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.6163.1. eCollection 2015.

The culture of scientific research.

F1000Research

Catherine Joynson, Ottoline Leyser

Affiliations

  1. Nuffield Council on Bioethics, 28 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3JS, UK.
  2. Steering Group on the Culture of Scientific Research, Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University, Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR, UK.

PMID: 25866623 PMCID: PMC4376168 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.6163.1

Abstract

In 2014, the UK-based Nuffield Council on Bioethics carried out a series of engagement activities, including an online survey to which 970 people responded, and 15 discussion events at universities around the UK to explore the culture of research in the UK and its effect on ethical conduct in science and the quality of research. The findings of the project were published in December 2014 and the main points are summarised here. We found that scientists are motivated in their work to find out more about the world and to benefit society, and that they believe collaboration, multidisciplinarity, openness and creativity are important for the production of high quality science. However, in some cases, our findings suggest, the culture of research in higher education institutions does not support or encourage these goals or activities. For example, high levels of competition and perceptions about how scientists are assessed for jobs and funding are reportedly contributing to a loss of creativity in science, less collaboration and poor research practices. The project led to suggestions for action for funding bodies, research institutions, publishers and editors, professional bodies and individual researchers.

Keywords: Nuffield Council on Bioethics; Research; culture; ethics; integrity; misconduct; science

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