* Research Basics *

Understanding RCR Fundamentals

What you need to know: RCR provides ethical guidelines for every stage of your research—from initial design through final reporting. The core principles that should guide your work are honesty (presenting facts truthfully), precision (avoiding errors and summarizing correctly), efficiency (managing resources responsibly), and impartiality (preventing bias from affecting your work).

Why it matters to you: Federal laws require RCR training because research misconduct in federally funded programs damaged public trust. If you work on NSF or NIH supported projects, you must complete this training. The Office of Research Integrity investigates misconduct cases, and the consequences can end careers.

Your training requirement: At Illinois Tech, you must complete CITI RCR training regardless of your funding status—this applies whether you're an undergraduate, graduate student, postdoc, or faculty member. Your training will cover nine comprehensive areas: research misconduct, conflicts of interest, mentor/trainer responsibilities, data acquisition and management, collaborative research, peer review, authorship and plagiarism, human subject research, and using animals in research.

Protecting Yourself from Research Misconduct

Understanding the stakes: Research misconduct—fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in any aspect of research—threatens the entire scientific enterprise. When you cite fraudulent work, you risk perpetuating misconduct and building your own research on false foundations. Publishers will retract compromised articles, and government sanctions can range from reprimands to complete funding bans for individuals or institutions.
How to Avoid Using Fraudulent Research

• Check every source: Before citing any article, verify it at the publisher's website as if downloading a fresh copy. Retracted articles will be clearly marked. Don't skip this step even for articles shared by trusted colleagues—they may not know about recent retractions.
• Use quality databases: Stick to research databases recommended by Galvin Library. The explosion of online publishing has created many predatory journals with poor or nonexistent peer review. These questionable publications often aren't indexed in reputable databases, so using library-recommended resources reduces your exposure.
• Monitor Retraction Watch: This valuable resource indexes papers retracted for misconduct and tracks authors with multiple retractions. Make checking it part of your regular research routine, especially for authors whose work forms a foundation for your research.

Avoiding Plagiarism in Your Work

• Know the definition: Federal regulations define plagiarism as "appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results or words without giving appropriate credit." This includes work from sources you forgot you consulted—ignorance isn't a defense.
• Develop good habits: Use citation management tools like Zotero or EndNote to track every source you encounter during literature reviews. When you borrow content, you have three ethical options: quote with quotation marks, paraphrase in your own words, or summarize while maintaining proper attribution.
• Get help when needed: Galvin Library offers comprehensive guides on citing sources, and resources like the Purdue OWL provide extensive plagiarism prevention guidance. Don't hesitate to use these resources—proper citation is a skill worth developing.

Navigating AI-Assisted Research

Current landscape: AI use in research exists in an ethical gray area with rapidly evolving standards. Illinois Tech does not have any specific AI policies. That means it's up to you to understand the requirements of  your publisher if you use AI tools in your research or writing.

Publisher policies vary dramatically: Some prohibit AI entirely (Science/AAAS), while others allow it with specific guidelines and disclosure requirements (Elsevier, IEEE, Springer-Nature). OpenAI provides fallback policies when publishers have no specific guidelines, but you must check each journal's current requirements before submission.

Your responsibility: Contact publishers directly when uncertain about AI tool usage. Since policies change constantly and vary between journals, what's acceptable for one publication may be prohibited by another. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and full disclosure.
Research Requiring Special Approvals

Research Involving Humans, Animals, DNA, or Biological Materials

Human Subject or Animal Research

• When you need approval: If your research involves living individuals from whom you obtain information or biospecimens, or if you use identifiable private information or biospecimens from any source (including commercial providers), you likely need IRB approval. Use the official decision tree to determine if your project qualifies.
• Your process: Contact the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for approval or waiver before beginning any human subject research. This requirement applies regardless of your funding status. Email irb@iit.edu with project descriptions if you're uncertain about requirements.
• Animal Research
• Universal requirement: Any research using non-human animals requires approval from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before you begin. This applies to all animal experimentation, testing, or in vivo studies regardless of scope.
• Getting approval: Email iacuc@iit.edu for questions or to submit applications. The IACUC reviews and oversees all animal research conducted by Illinois Tech faculty, staff, and students.

Biological Materials and DNA

• Safety oversight: The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) governs research involving recombinant DNA, infectious agents, and other hazardous biological materials including carcinogens. This oversight protects you and your community from biological hazards.
• When to contact them: Reach out to the IBC for guidance if you're uncertain whether your materials fall under their oversight. It's better to ask unnecessary questions than to proceed without required approvals.

Remember: Research integrity protects both your career and the broader scientific enterprise. When facing uncertainty about any aspect of responsible conduct, reach out to the appropriate committee or advisor. The consequences of misconduct far outweigh the effort required to do research ethically from the start.

• Tto learn more about any of the topics listed above, just click the links (in red text). Each one will take you to a more detailed guide.
• Need help with your research or writing? Use the links at the bottom of the left-hand column (under the navigation tabs) to connect with library support, including:
  • Chatting live with a research librarian
  • Scheduling a one-on-one appointment with your subject specialist
  • Browsing the library’s FAQ for quick answers
• You may also be able to get research or writing support from other campus offices, such as the Writing Center or the Office of the Thesis Examiner. Check with them to see what services they offer and how to make an appointment.