Topic: Responsible Conduct of Research and Research Security

Study Design Best Practices

Organize your study to provide the clearest possible answer, then trust in the objectivity of the data rather than looking for the desired outcome. Ensure the target population is fully represented (e.g. if the study researches impacts on all adults, do not gather data just from a single sex or age). Minimize risks to subjects, […]

Documenting Research Activity

Designing a quality study, collecting data, and analyzing that data is the foundation of research. Comprehensive documentation of these processes is key to producing rigorous, responsible, and reproducible research. Because research can take years to complete and can go through many refinements, it is important to thoroughly document the entire research record.  Documentation is not […]

Responsible Conduct of Research Policy

Effective: 03/31/2025Created: 01/04/2009 Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) fosters ethical principles, professional standards, and best practices guiding researchers to conduct their work with integrity, transparency, and accountability. WashU offers specific RCR online education that encompasses Research Integrity, Mentorship, Study Design & Data Management, Research Security, Authorship & Publication, and Peer Review. Ethical research practices also […]

Trainings for Researchers

Compliance Trainings Below are the major compliance trainings required for the research community. Most mandatory trainings are assigned in Workday Learning based on HR data or by the completion of the Compliance Profile. All members of the research community are encouraged to complete the compliance profile at the start of a new position or when job […]

Research Education & Information (REI)

Provides programming, resources, and tools that promote ethical and responsible conduct of research and support research management and compliance activities About Research Education and Information (REI) is a part of Research Administration, under the Vice Chancellor for Research. Our mission is to provide exceptional programs, resources, and tools that promote ethical and responsible conduct of […]

Submit Continuing RCR Education Attendance Records

Individual learners should NOT submit personal training records via the method below. This method is for group trainings with a school, department, or program. If you attended a training outside of your department/non-WashU training, then you should submit your training completion to a research administrator in your department. Continuing Education Submission Schools, departments, and programs […]

RCR Boilerplate Language

Disclaimer: Please use this information as appropriate and applicable to your application. The content provided below is not meant to replace individually tailored RCR education plans. Using this information verbatim is not recommended. Washington University in St. Louis provides education in ethics and responsible conduct in research via web-based trainings and face-to-face workshops. Web-based Education […]