Allegation.   An allegation is a written statement that research misconduct may have occurred, submitted to the potential Respondent’s supervisor or the Research Integrity Officer.

Debarment.   Debarment is an action taken by the VA debarring official to exclude a Respondent from participating in the covered transactions listed at Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR  ) 44, Subpart B.      A debarment by VA has government-wide effect, unless a specific exception is granted.

Fabrication.   Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them.

Falsification.   Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record.

Good Faith and Reasonable Allegation or Cooperation.    A good faith and reasonable allegation of research misconduct is an allegation which the Informant believes and which a person in the Informant’s position could reasonably make, in light of the readily available evidence.   An allegation is not made in good faith if made with reckless disregard for or willful ignorance of facts that would negate the allegation.  Good faith cooperation with a research misconduct Inquiry or Investigation means cooperating honestly and forthrightly with those conducting the Inquiry or Investigation.

Informant.   An informant is one who makes an allegation or cooperates with an Inquiry or Investigation of research misconduct.

Inquiry.   An Inquiry is a process in which initial information is gathered solely to determine whether the readily available evidence warrants a formal investigation of research misconduct. 

Investigation.   An investigation is a formal process whereby a properly constituted Investigation Committee evaluates all the relevant facts, determines whether the evidence supports a finding of research misconduct, identifies the responsible individual(s), and assesses the seriousness of the misconduct.

Plagiarism.   Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit.

Research.   Research is the term for all basic, applied, and demonstration research in all fields of science, engineering, and mathematics.   This includes, but is not limited to:  research in economics, education, linguistics, medicine, psychology, social sciences, statistics, and research involving human subjects or animals.

Research Impropriety.   Research impropriety is any ethical lapse or other impropriety involving or occurring in connection with research other than research misconduct.  Examples of research impropriety include, but are not limited to, conflicts of interest, misallocation of funds, sexual harassment, discrimination, and breaches of human subjects protections and animal welfare requirements.

Research Integrity Officer (RIO ).   The RIO is the appointed official at each VA facility who is responsible for receiving and coordinating reviews of formal allegations of research misconduct.

Research Misconduct (or Misconduct).   Research misconduct is defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.  Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion.  To constitute research misconduct, the behavior must (1) represent a significant departure from accepted practices of the relevant research community, and (2) be committed intentionally, knowingly, or with reckless disregard for the integrity of the research.

Research Record.   The research record is the record of data or results that embody the facts resulting from scientific inquiry, including, but not limited to, research proposals, physical and electronic laboratory records, progress reports, abstracts, theses, oral presentations, internal reports, and journal articles.

Respondent(s).   Respondent(s) are the person(s) against whom an allegation of research misconduct is directed or whose actions are the subject of an Inquiry or Investigation.   Use of this term does not imply that the person(s) are, or will be, the subject of a disciplinary proceeding.

Retaliation.   Retaliation is taking or threatening to take an adverse action within one’s authority against an Informant in response to a good faith and reasonable allegation or cooperation with an Inquiry or Investigation of research misconduct.   An adverse action may include an intentional failure to take a warranted action.

Suspension.   Suspension is an action taken by the VA suspending official that immediately prohibits a Respondent from participating in covered transactions listed at 38 CFR  44, Subpart B for a temporary period, pending completion of an investigation and ensuing proceedings.

VA Medical Center .  A VA medical center is a local VA medical facility or VA Health Care System comprising part of VA’s national health care system.

VA Medical Center  Director.  The VA medical center Director is the Chief Executive of a VA medical center or Health Care System.

VA Research.   VA research is all research: (1) funded in whole or in part by VA; (2) conducted by VA employees within the scope of their VA employment (whether full-time, part-time, or WOC  ); and/or (3) using VA facilities, equipment, personnel, or patients.

Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN ) Director.  The VISN Director is the head of a designated regional service within the VA medical system.  Each VA medical center belongs to a geographically-determined VISN and reports to the Director of that service.