Independence
Separate research judgment from political, financial, and contractual pressure; do not adjust findings to satisfy a party.
Institutional values
Integrity
Report what the evidence supports, disclose errors, and do not fabricate information or hide material facts.
Accuracy
Exercise care in questions, samples, instruments, implementation, analysis, and review; do not use figures outside their meaning.
Transparency
Explain commissioning, scope, data collection, material limitations, and revisions.
Respect for participants
Support voluntary participation, appropriate consent, harm minimization, privacy, and responsible data use.
Fairness
Seek relevant representation, examine exclusion and bias, and present differences without stigmatization.
Public value
Make findings understandable and useful for discussion, planning, and learning without overstatement.
Accountability
Accept feedback, complaints, and correction; document professional decisions and review practice when problems arise.
When interests conflict
Speed, cost, commissioner preference, or media attention may conflict with quality or safety. Participant protection, methodological integrity, and truthful communication take priority over rapid publication or a preferred result.
How the values appear in practice
- Reject questions or assignments designed for deception or harmful targeting.
- Record changes to instruments, samples, or plans and assess their effect.
- Do not present preliminary findings as final.
- Anonymize or restrict access where disclosure creates risk.
- Publish a clear correction when a material figure or interpretation changes.
- Disclose the commissioner’s role without presenting the relationship as endorsement.
Decision rules
| When choosing between | Priority |
|---|---|
| Speed and quality | Quality sufficient to prevent a misleading result, with any time constraint disclosed. |
| Commissioner preference and evidence | What the data and methodology support. |
| Publication and confidentiality | Participant protection and legitimate contractual rights, without concealing funding or material interference. |
| Technical detail and accessibility | Layered communication preserving accuracy while enabling public understanding. |
| Innovation and safety | The least intrusive tool capable of meeting the research purpose. |
Expected conduct
- Report an error or conflict of interest when it becomes known.
- Do not use data access for personal or political advantage.
- Respect participants who refuse or withdraw.
- Do not stigmatize a group because of findings or response patterns.
- Distinguish evidence, professional review, and personal opinion.
- Document changes and decisions with methodological effect.
Breach and accountability
Possible breaches are reviewed according to nature, effect, and intent. Action may include correction, training, access restriction, removal from an assignment, or contractual or legal referral. Values language is not a substitute for fair and documented procedure.