NOAA Code of Scientific Conduct

NAO 202-735D.2, Section 7. CODE OF SCIENTIFIC CONDUCT

1. .01 Achieving the purpose of the NAO requires commitment from scientists, their managers, those who use scientific results to set policy, and agency leadership. Therefore, this Order establishes reciprocal responsibilities among all four groups through a Code of Scientific Conduct and Code of Ethics for Science Supervision and Management for NOAA employees and contractors who conduct, supervise, assess, or interpret scientific information for the use of NOAA, the Department of Commerce, and the Nation.
2. .02 The actions to ensure research integrity in Section .03 below are provided as a set of best practices for those covered by this policy. NOAA expects its employees at all levels of the agency to abide by these principles to the best of their ability.
3. .03 All NOAA employees and contractors identified in Section 2.01 and all NOAA financial assistance award recipients and other NOAA research partners and collaborators identified in Section 2.02 will, to the best of their ability, be:
   
   1. Honest in all aspects of scientific effort and:
      
      1. Clearly differentiate between facts, personal opinions, assumptions, hypotheses, and professional judgment in reporting the results of scientific activities and characterizing associated uncertainties in using those results for decision-making, and in representing those results to other scientists, decision-makers, and the public.
      2. Preserve the integrity of the data record through adherence to NOAA data management standards and not fabricate, falsify, or delete raw data.
      3. Approach all scientific activities objectively and completely; report results fairly and accurately and in a timely manner without allegiance to individuals, organizations, or ideology.
      4. Disclose any apparent, potential, or actual financial conflicts of interest or nonfinancial conflicts of interest of their own and others.
      5. Objectively consider conflicting data and/or studies.
      6. Acknowledge in publications the names and roles of those who made significant contributions to the research; including writers, funders, sponsors, and others who do not meet community-accepted authorship best practices.
   2. Accountable in conducting research and interpretation of research results and:
      
      1. Use resources entrusted to them responsibly, which includes equipment, funds, and employees’ time.
      2. Disclose all research methods used, available data, and final reports and publications consistent with applicable scientific standards, laws, and policy.
      3. Ensure research results receive appropriate peer review before public dissemination in reputable journals or other public outlets, and are not disseminated on preprint servers and in predatory journals. [Note, NOAA’s policy on use of preprint servers has been updated since this NAO was released.]
      4. Ensure research results are not disseminated in predatory journals.
      5. Provide scientific advice to NOAA as requested to inform management and other decision-making.
   3. Professional, courteous, inclusive, equitable, and fair while working with others; respectful of their ideas and:
      
      1. Do not hinder the scientific activities of others, or engage in dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, coercive manipulation, or other scientific or research misconduct.
      2. Provide constructive, objective, and frank evaluation to others in their scientific activities as appropriate for standards of respectful peer review, and accept constructive critique from others.
      3. Contribute to open and respectful scientific discourse that adheres to scientific standards for reporting results and conclusions and respects the intellectual property rights of others, including acknowledging and crediting prior work.
   4. Good stewards of research on behalf of others and:
      
      1. Diligently create, use, preserve, document, and maintain collections of physical specimens and data.
      2. Adhere to established quality assurance and quality control programs, follow Department of Commerce records retention policies, and comply with Federal law and agreements related to use, security, and release of confidential and proprietary data.
      3. Adhere to the laws and policies related to protection of human research subjects, natural and cultural resources, and research animals while conducting scientific activities.
      4. Respect confidential and proprietary information provided by communities, such as Native American tribes or tribal organizations, and individuals whose interests are studied or affected by scientific activities or the resulting information, adhering to proprietary laws.
      5. Immediately report any observed, suspected, or apparent Scientific and Research Misconduct through means established in Section 9 and the Procedural Handbook for this Order.