Norway's National Research Ethics Committees

The Norwegian National Research Ethics Committees' website clearly demonstrate their ability to talk the talk. LailasCase.com, a public interest disclosure, provides an opportunity for The Norwegian National Research Ethics Committees and Ministry of Education and Research to walk the walk. [See: phrases.org.uk/meanings/walk-the-walk]

Included below are relevant talk the talk excerpts with links to The Norwegian National Research Ethics Committees website.

• Fraud and plagiarism
  "It may be tempting to dress up in borrowed plumage (plagiarise/refrain from referring to one’s sources), cook data (falsify data) or simply invent (fabricate) data, and disregard the fact that this violates fundamental and internationally accepted rules for good research practice." (Source: "Fraud and plagiarism" Text: Torkild Vinther, Last updated: 25. February 2016. The Norwegian National Research Ethics Committees)
• Plagiarism
  "Among the Norwegian cases of misconduct that have been brought to the attention of the National Commission for Investigation of Research Misconduct, a fair number have involved plagiarism. It is especially important to note that broadly speaking, all cases examined over the last eight years in which a conclusion of some form of research misconduct has been reached have primarily centred on plagiarism. In other words, there is ample reason to focus on this issue, despite the fact that even in primary school we were instructed not to copy others and in upper secondary we were scrupulously taught that plagiarism is forbidden." (Source: ibid.)
• Public interest disclosure
  "What should you do if you discover research fraud? This is a major ethical dilemma and society has a real need for fraud in research to be reported. The person raising the alarm risks being labelled a whisteblower. In such situations, should you put yourself first and avoid a potentially awkward situation, or should you take responsibility and report the fraud? Or what should you do if your research identifies a potential risk that some people appear to have been exposed to without knowing it? You know that if the risk is real, it may be best to raise the alarm. On the other hand, you also know that there are weaknesses in your research, and that if your research is presented as sensationalist in the media there will be negative consequences." (Source: "Public interest disclosure" Text: Arnt Inge Vistnes, Last updated: 17. September 2015. The Norwegian National Research Ethics Committees)
• Act on ethics and integrity in research
  "The Act relating to ethics and integrity in research (Research Ethics Act) entered into force on 1 July 2007. The Act establishes and confers a mandate and responsibilities on the National Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics (NEM), the National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (NESH) and the National Committee for Research Ethics in Science and Technology (NENT), as well as the National Commission for the Investigation of Research Misconduct (Investigation Commission). The Act also establishes and confers a mandate and responsibilities on the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK)." (Source: "Act on ethics and integrity in research" Text: Nils Jørgen Langtvedt, Last updated: 18. February 2016. The Norwegian National Research Ethics Committees)
• About The National Commission for the Investigation of Research Misconduct (Granskingsutvalget).
  "According to ”Act on Ethics and Integrity in Research” entered into force in July 2007 research institutes (universities etc.) have the primary responsibility for preventing and handling allegations concerning research misconduct. However, the mentioned law introduced a new body to investigate research misconduct: The National Commission for the Investigation of Research Misconduct (Granskingsutvalget)." (Source: "About The National Commission for the Investigation of Research Misconduct (Granskingsutvalget)" Text: The Norwegian National Committees for Research Ethics, Last updated: Friday, October 3, 2014.  The Norwegian National Research Ethics Committees)

Included below is a list, which has been supplemented with links and contact information, for the 9 committees (including the 4 regional committees) referenced above.

• National Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics (NEM)
  Director Jacob Hølen: [email protected]  +47 23 31 83 03
• National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (NESH)
  Director Vidar Enebakk: [email protected]  +47 23 31 83 02
• National Committee for Research Ethics in Science and Technology (NENT)
  Director Helene Ingierd: [email protected]  +47 23 31 83 04
• National Commission for the Investigation of Research Misconduct (Investigation Commission)
  Director Torkild Vinther: [email protected]  +47 23 31 83 24
• Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK)
  [email protected] "Enter the name of the respective REC (REC South East, REC West, REC Central or REC North) in the email subject field"
  • REC South East: [email protected]  +47 22 84 55 11
  • REC West: [email protected]  +47 55 97 50 00
  • REC Central: [email protected]  +47 73 59 75 09
  • REC North: [email protected]  +47 77 64 61 40

Following is an excerpt regarding plagiarism from the NESH: "GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH ETHICS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES, LAW AND THE HUMANITIES"

• "28. Plagiarism
  Plagiarism of others’ text, material, ideas and research results is unacceptable and constitutes a serious breach of ethical standards.
  In terms of research ethics, plagiarism involves stealing content from the works of other writers and researchers and publishing it as one ’s own. Researchers who use others’ ideas or quotations from publications or research material, shall cite their sources. The grossest type of plagiarism is pure duplication. Plagiarism can nonetheless take other, more refined shapes, and apply to limited findings, ideas, hypotheses, concepts, theories, interpretations, designs, etc. Referring to another work early in one’s own text and then subsequently making extensive use of it without further reference is also plagiarism."
  
  "Research is largely built on others’ material, data, and research results. Following some simple basic rules can help avert plagiarism. It is important to distinguish between direct quotations from others’ texts and paraphrasing in foot- and end-notes as well as in the text. Paraphrasing must not be so close to the original text that it is in reality like a quotation. Where several paraphrased sections are linked together, there can be a danger that the entire argumentation belongs to someone else. A plagiarist undermines not only his or her own reputation as a researcher, but also the credibility of the research." (Source: "GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH ETHICS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES, LAW AND THE HUMANITIES" De nasjonale forskningsetiske komiteer. September 2006. p.25-26. ISBN: 82-7682-050-6 Published electronically: http://www.etikkom.no/English/NESH/guidelines [Note: the published URL is not active; active URL: https://www.etikkom.no/globalassets/documents/english-publications/guidelines-for-research-ethics-in-the-social-sciences-law-and-the-humanities-2006.pdf)

See Research Ethics Acts: 2017 & 2006