Overview
Universities, both renowned and newly established, seek to inculcate among the university staff the ethics of scientific publishing. The reputation of a university could be risked if a massive number of scientific research were published without taking into account the ethics of scientific publishing. With that in mind, it is imperative create a conducive environment, infrastructure and an academic systems in a way that supports and maintains the ethics of scientific publishing.
This guide aims to explicate the procedures and mechanisms adopted by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Majmaah University in supporting the ethics of scientific publishing. It presents the procedures and standards of scientific research ethics used by the Deanship of Scientific Research which are related closely to funding research projects and the ethical charter for both researchers experts as well as publishing rules in scientific journals at Majmaah University.
Guide Topics
The guide addresses five topics:
First: The standards of ethical behavior expected for all parties involved in scientific publishing.
Second: The Code of Ethics at Majmaah University in funding research projects.
Third: The ethical charter for researchers at Majmaah University.
Fourth: The ethical charter for experts assigned for refereeing research papers at Majmaah University.
Fifth: The ethical charter for publishing in scientific journals at Majmaah University.
A royal decree No. M/59, dated 9/14/1431 AH, was issued to form a national committee titled (National Committee for Biomedical and Medical Ethics), under the supervision and management of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, which aims to set standards and ethics for biological and medical research and follow up on their implementation. The committee aims to improve the health, preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic and psychological aspects, taking into account human dignity, justice, charity and preserving the rights of individuals and societies, in line with Islamic law and the traditions and foundations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This committee serves different interests including bio-medical research ethics and their applications in hospitals, universities and research institutes as well as public and private bodies. The Council of Ministers Resolution No. 180, dated 6/9/1425 AH, obligated all research bodies and centers in the Kingdom to form a local research ethics committee in each research institution subject to the supervision and control of the National Committee for Bioethics and Medical Ethics. To that end, the Deanship of Scientific Research at Majmaah University formed the local committee for scientific research ethics, and its tasks include:
1- Coordinate with the National Committee for Bioethics and Medical Ethics to implement ethical standards and controls for biological and medical research according to the executive regulations for the system of ethics in research on living creatures.
2- Evaluate and review regularly the subcommittees in the field of applying biomedical and medical research ethics standards and controls.
3- Carry out periodic evaluation and review of medical, biological and pharmaceutical laboratories, particularly the requirements related to living organisms, and ensuring their legality.
4- Ensure that faculty members and researchers adhere to the ethical values of scientific research and review violation of scientific ethics cases in dissertations.
5- Promote the culture of scientific research ethics by highlighting the importance of applying scientific research ethics standards.
6- Coordinate with entities supporting research at the university.
The local committee for research ethics at Majmaah University has drawn up an internal bylaw that regulates the relationship between the committee and the subcommittees in the various colleges of the university. It specifies how to assist faculty members and researchers and promote the culture of research ethics. The researcher submits the request to the relevant committee at his/her college.