Transparency data

Annual Statement of Compliance with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity (2023-2024)

Published 26 July 2024

1. Introductory statement and summary of actions

1. The Government Office for Science (GOS) is part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) for administrative purposes, but is operationally independent and works across all of Government. GOS provides scientific advice to the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet, through a programme of projects that reflect the priorities of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser. GOS works to ensure that government policies and decisions are informed by the best scientific evidence and strategic long-term thinking. See https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-office-for-science/about which sets out the priority areas on which GOS is focussing. GOS’s values include ‘openness’ and ‘integrity’. 

2. GOS is committed to the principles set out by the Concordat to Support Research Integrity. They underpin our objective to ensure that government policies and decisions are informed by the best scientific evidence. Applying these principles means that others in government and beyond can have trust and confidence in our research and in any resulting policy or service delivery. 

3. Following GOS’s production of guidance to implement the Concordat to Support Research Integrity across the whole of government in 2022, GOS has continued to provide advice to government departments and bodies on application of the guidance during 2023-2024. 

4. GOS has identified the research conducted or commissioned by GOS that fell within scope of the guidance. 

5. Staff with responsibility for GOS’s research projects have received information and advice about the requirements of the guidance. GOS maintains systems which ensure that research conducted or commissioned by GOS meets the requirements. 

2. Governance 

6. Ted Hayden, Director of GOS, is the named senior member of staff with oversight of research integrity in GOS. 

7. Rachael Creed wrote the cross-government guidance and is the named contact for research integrity in GOS. Rachael leads on establishing policies and systems for research integrity and providing advice on embedding the guidance’s requirements in GOS. 

8. Queries about research integrity arrangements in GOS may be addressed to researchintegrity@go-science.gov.uk. 

3. Processes to support culture of research integrity 

9. GOS has processes and supporting documentation to underpin the application of research integrity principles, including to identify what is research in scope and to record relevant research.  

10. GOS is committed to the principles of transparency and continually reviews its processes to ensure that project and research outputs that are of wider interest and use are published promptly wherever possible. 

11. GOS research has been informed by ethical research guidance such as https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-media-research-guidance-using-social-media-for-social-research; and the principals set out in the Aqua Book : guidance on producing quality analysis for government. In procuring research from contractors, all public sector procurement rules were followed1. 

4. Guidance for researchers, employers and commissioners of research 

12. GOS’s officials have received guidance on: the introduction of the Concordat’s principles; GOS research integrity named roles; how and where to record research; and what actions are required in support of research integrity. 

13. GOS offers cross-government support and shares knowledge and best practice with all government officials who are involved with research, including those in GOS. GOS maintains a repository of research-integrity-related resources. 

14. During 2023-2024, GOS continued to advise and guide departments and GOS staff on implementation of the Concordat, whenever queries arose.  

5. Training and awareness raising 

15. The Government Science and Engineering Profession (GSEP) Career Framework, which is applicable to scientists and engineers across government, including in GOS, lists understanding and application of the Concordat to Support Research amongst the technical skills for the GSEP. 

16. GOS held an information meeting for staff to help them understand the requirements of the guidance and what actions they needed to take to embed the research integrity requirements and contribute to annual reporting. 

17. GOS intranet pages provide information and guidance and set out what staff need to do. 

6. External engagement 

18. GOS engaged with the UK Committee on Research Integrity (UKCORI) hosted by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). 

19. GOS had observer status at meetings of the Research Integrity Concordat Signatories (RICS) group, which oversees and promotes the Concordat. This informed the implementation of research integrity principles in GOS and across government. 

7. Open Science and research protocols 

20. GOS had a process for publishing research protocols and analysis plans in advance of research studies starting. The process allowed for research outputs to be published alongside these, making them accessible to others who might benefit from using them. 

8. Publication of research 

21. GOS used gov.uk as a channel to share research outputs in accordance with the guidance. A different channel was used for research which was the result of a partnership with another organisation.  

22. All research in scope during 2023-2024 was recorded. 

9. Research misconduct 

23. There were no cases of research misconduct in relation to research conducted or commissioned by GOS during financial year 2023-2024. Standard departmental procedures were in place should GOS officials have wished to raise concern.