Research Ethics Code of Korean Sociological Association

Enacted on 12/20/2013
Implemented on 1/1/2014

 

Chapter 1 Purpose and Principles

 

Article 1 (Purpose)

The purpose of this Code is to set out the principles and criteria of the KSA’s research ethics, to fix the matters pertaining to the composition, assignments and activities of the Research Ethics Committee, with the aim of enhancing members’ research ethics and preventing relevant violations, and to set the groundwork for handling violations fairly and squarely.

 

Article 2 (Applicability)

This Code shall apply to all KSA members. Once the procedure for deliberation of a suspected case of violation is started, this Code shall apply even if the relevant person has withdrawn his/her KSA membership.

 

Article 3 (Scope of Application)

This Code shall apply to treatises published in the Korean Journal of Sociology, treatises being deliberated to be published in the said journal, and the role of KSA members in general as sociologists. However, this Code shall not apply to KSA members’ activities that have nothing to do with, or have no impact on, their status as sociologists.

 

Article 4 (Rights and Obligations)

① KSA members shall have the right to engage in creative research based on academic freedom. KSA members shall have the obligation to seek out the truth in their research.

② KSA members shall have the obligation to acknowledge the status (e.g. Chief researcher, co-researchers, assistant researchers, research participants, etc.) of relevant people”, to allocate resources, and to evaluate their academic achievements fairly.

 

Article 5 (Definitions)

① A “chief researcher” refers to a researcher leading a research team.

② A “co-researcher” refers to a researcher working with a chief researcher in a research team.

③ A “researcher” refers to a chief researcher or a co-researcher. “Researchers and the like” refers to researchers, assistant researchers, research participants, and research subjects altogether.

④ An “assistant researcher” refers to one selected by a researcher to help him/her as an assistant in carrying out a research project.

⑤ “Research participants” refer to researchers, assistant researchers, and students, etc., engaging in research, education, practice, presentation, judging, etc., forming relationships with each other as evaluators-evaluates, supervisors-supervisees, and managers-manages.

⑥ “Research subjects” refer to persons participating in research as a recipient of tests.

 

 

Chapter 2 Honesty of Research

 

Article 6 (Production of Research-related Records and Results)

KSA members shall carry out research based on accurate and verified materials and produce honest research results. They shall not engage in the following acts:

1. Using a dishonest method in making primary and second materials pertaining to survey, observation, experiment, and literature-based study, their recording and reporting.
2. Manipulation of research materials at their discretion through alteration, addition or omission.

 

Article 7 (Restriction on Use of One’s Own or Others’ Exiting Research Results)

① In drawing up their research plan, treatises and creative work (“research work” together), KSA members shall write in their own sentences based on their own ideas and original research materials.

② In drawing up research work, KSA members shall not make the work look as if it is their new/original research result when they use others’ or their own existing research result contained in a book, academic journal, collection of treatises presented, e-journal, a treatise being examined, existing research material or plan.

③ In drawing up research work, KSA members may use their own or others’ existing research ideas, materials, and sentences within the extent that does not impair the originality of their own research. However, in such a case, they shall indicate the source clearly and shall not engage in the following acts:

1. An act of expressing as if the said research work is their new original research result by using a different method of stating others’ or their own existing research idea, design or materials partly or wholly
2. An act of using sentences in others’ or their own existing research work as if they are their new original sentences
3. An act of altering others’ or their own existing research work by adding or removing words or substituting similar words to make it look as if it is their new original research work, unless originality is recognized in such parts and the source is accurately indicated.

④ Even where the source is indicated accurately with the use of quotation marks, KSA members shall not rely on others’ or their own existing research materials, results or their reconfiguration to the extent that it impairs the originality of their research work. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to research work introducing or referring to the research trend of academic circles.

⑤ Notwithstanding the foregoing ② and ③, members may use others’ or their own existing research results without indicating the source or the use of quotation mark, if they belong in the public domain, which means that they have become a widely known fact by being published in general publications or research materials.

 

Article 8 (No Overlapping Publications or Publishing the Same article in Two or More Journals)

① KSA Members shall not engage in the act of overlapping publications or publishing the same article in two or more journals, using their treatise or book already publishing the a journal or published partly or wholly in the same or different language without indicating the source or the use of quotation marks. Even if the content and sentences in two different research works are partially different from each other, the overall similarity shall be deemed to be overlapping publications.

② KSA members’ acts shall not be hampered by the foregoing ① where one of the following is the case. The following cases 1 through 6 shall be conditional upon indicating the source or using quotation mark:

1. Publishing one’s master’s or doctoral treatise partly or wholly in a journal or publishing it as a book
2. Carrying a research service report partly or wholly in a journal or publishing it as a book
3. Publishing a collection of treatises carried in journals as a book
4. Carrying another person’s treatise or book partly or wholly in a journal or publishing it as a book in the same or different language with the consent of the copyright holder
5. Short research notes or book review contained in a journal carried on another journal or published as a book with expanded content, possibly with the addition of research materials, interpretations or detailed information on the research process, etc.
6. A treatise already carried on a journal or published partly or wholly re-carried on a special feature of a journal or re-published in the form of anthology by another compiler with the approval of the author
7. Easily interpreted version of the content of a treatise already carried on a journal or a published book re-carried or re-published in a non-academic publication such as a popular magazine or an education book
8. The act of re-carrying or re-publishing a research work in a way similar to what is stated in the foregoing 1 through 7, which does not infringe academic integrity

③ Registration of already announced research results as intellectual property shall be allowed without regard to the foregoing ① and ②.

 

Article 9 (Indication of Author)

① In carrying out joint research, KSA members shall explain clearly to researchers, assistant researchers, and research participants about their roles and provide them with advanced notice about conditions of indication of the author in research and publication.

② KSA members shall indicate researchers who have made clear contributions to the research process as authors or presenters.

③ In announcing research results, the order of presenting the authors or presenters shall be fairly determined based on their level of contribution to research and reasonable practice.

④ KSA members shall not ask researchers to set the authors’ status or order in a way not corresponding to their level of contribution.

 

 

Chapter 3 Protection of Rights

 

Article 10 (Protection of Rights of Researchers and the like)

① KSA members shall minimize risks of researchers and the like and shall not engage in a research project that may impair their human rights or welfare.

② KSA members shall ensure the privacy of researchers and the like and protect their personal information.

③ KSA members shall not discriminate researchers and the like based on the following factors: gender, religion, physical disability, age, social status, locality, country of origin, ethnicity, physical conditions like appearance, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth, family status/situation, race, skin color, ideology, political orientation, past criminal record, sexual orientation, academic background, and medical history. KSA members shall not use abusive language, insult or engage in violence, sexual harassment or violence against researchers and the like.

 

Article 11 (Protection of Rights of Co-researchers, Assistant Researchers and Research participants)

① As regards to co-researchers, assistant researchers, and research participants, KSA members shall inform them of specific employment conditions and conditions for distribution based on research results in advance.

② KSA members shall not engage in the following acts, using their authority for evaluation, management, supervision, etc. against co-researchers, assistant researchers, and research participants.

1. Forcing them to maintain unfair employment relationship
2. Arbitrary use of, or putting restriction on the access to, jointly produced research materials
3. Arbitrary use of materials provided by co-researchers, assistant researchers, and research participants

③ KSA members shall not engage in the act stated in Article 10 ③ hereof against co-researchers, assistant researchers, and research participants.

 

Article 12 (Protection of Rights of Research Subjects)

① KSA members shall assess the physical and mental impact of research and the research environment on research subjects and take adequate safety measures.

② Where their research project is likely to do serious harm to individuals or society, KSA members shall report it to the KSA President so that he/she may take appropriate steps.

③ KSA members shall not engage in the act stated in Article 10 ③ hereof against research subjects.

 

 

Chapter 4 Composition and Duties of the Research Ethics Committee

 

Article 13 (Composition of the Research Ethics Committee)

The KSA shall operate the Research Ethics Committee as follows for execution of this Code.

① The Research Ethics Committee shall be composed of not more than 7 (seven) members appointed by the KSA President with the approval of the Board of Directors. The Editing Committee Chairperson shall take part in the Research Ethics Committee as an ex officio member.

② The Chairperson of the Research Ethics Committee shall be elected among the members of the said Committee to ensure its independence.

③ The term of the members of the Research Ethics Committee shall be for two years and they may serve consecutive terms.

④ Where deliberation of the Research Ethics Committee concerns a member of the said committee, the relevant member shall not take part in the deliberation or decision.

 

Article 14 (Research Ethics Violations)

① Those stated in the following shall be deemed to be research ethics violations set by the KSA.

1. Those listed in Article 6 through 8 hereof perpetrated willfully or through gross negligence.
2. An act perpetrated in violation of Articles 9 through 12 hereof
3. Other acts perpetrated in violation of Article 4 hereof

② Notwithstanding the foregoing ①, where an act stated in Articles 6 through 9 is justified by the regulations of the institution carrying out the research or by the regulations about treatise contribution of the relevant academic journal or by the relevant academic book publication regulations, it shall not be deemed to be in violation of the KSA’s research ethics.

 

Article 15 (Functions and Duties of the Research Ethics Committee)

① The Research Ethics Committee shall deliberate whether acts stated in Article 14 hereof constitute violation of the KSA’s research ethics and take necessary steps including sanctions concerning acts judged to be violations. Where a treatise contributed to Korean Journal of Sociology is in violation of research ethics stated in Article 14 hereof, the said journal’s research ethics regulations shall apply first. Where the violation is not confined to Korean Journal of Sociology, the Editing Committee Chairperson may refer the case to the Research Ethics Committee.

② The Research Ethics Committee may hold an educational session or other relevant programs designed to enhance KSA members’ research ethics-related consciousness to prevent violations.

③ Members of the Research Ethics Committee shall keep personal information on a person reporting a case of violation and a suspect, content of the case reported, and matters about its deliberation and judgment confidential.

④ Where the reporter or the suspect stated in the foregoing ③ is judged to be an interested party of a member of the Research Ethics Committee, the Chairperson of the committee may exclude the member from the deliberation and decision process of the case.

 

Article 16 (Exclusion of Members of the Research Ethics Committee)

① Where one of the following is applicable, the relevant member of the Research Ethics Committee shall be excluded from the deliberation and decision process of the case.

1. Where a member of the Research Ethics Committee or his/her spouse or ex-spouse is a party to the reported case or a joint holder of rights/obligation concerning the case
2. Where a member of the Research Ethics Committee is/was a relative of the party to the reported case
3. Where a member of the Research Ethics Committee has testified or appraised concerning the reported case
4. Where a member of the Research Ethics Committee is/was involved as an agent of the party to the reported case
5. Where a member of the Research Ethics Committee has been involved in an investigation or trial concerning the reported case or in a relief process under another law
6. Where the presence of a member of the Research Ethics Committee is judged to impair the fairness of the deliberation

② Where the reporter or the suspect thinks that a member of the Research Ethics Committee will not maintain fairness in deliberation or decision, he/she may ask the committee chairperson exclude such member out of the deliberation or decision process. In such a case, the chairperson may make the judgment on the request alone or with the participation of the other members of the committee.

③ In the event of the foregoing ① or ②, the relevant member of the Research Ethics Committee may voluntarily exclude him/herself out of the deliberation or decision process.

 

 

Chapter 5 The Research Ethics Committee’s Convocation, Deliberation, and Decision

 

Article 17 (The Research Ethics Committee’s Convocation and Decision)

① A session of the Research Ethics Committee shall be convoked by the Committee Chairperson when a case of a research ethics violation is reported or when there is a request for deliberation from the KSA President or the Board of Directors.

② Presence of a majority of members of the Research Ethics Committee in office shall constitute a quorum. The decision on a case shall require an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of those present.

 

Article 18 (Reporting Cases of Violations)

① Anyone identifying him/herself adequately may report a suspected case of a KSA member’s research ethics violation to the KSA.

② KSA Members perceiving a suspected case of a research ethics violation shall strive to resolve the issue.

③ KSA Members shall not engage in an act of reporting a suspected case maliciously for a purpose other than protection of truth concerning research.

④ KSA members shall comply with what is stated in Articles 20 and 21 hereof concerning the Research Ethics Committee’s requests and sanctions.

 

Article 19 (Dismissal of Reported Cases, etc.)

① The Research Ethics Committee shall dismiss a reported case of a research ethics violation, if it falls under one of the following categories:

1. Where the content of the reported case is not about a research ethics violation
2. Where the content of the reported case is false or irrelevant
3. Where more than a year has passed from the occurrence of the fact that is the cause of the report, unless the content includes a serious cause
4. Where a report has been submitted in a false name
5. Where the content of the report is deemed inappropriate to be handled by the Research Ethics Committee
6. Where the reporter has withdrawn his/her report
7. Where the content of the report is something previously dismissed by the Research Ethics Committee
8. Where the purpose of the report is contrary to a decision adjudged by the Supreme Court or the Constitutional Court concerning a fact that is associated with the cause of the report

② Where it is found that a report falls under one of the categories stated in the foregoing ① after the commencement of the Research Ethics Committee’s investigation, the committee may still dismiss the report.

③ The Research Ethics Committee shall inform the reporter of its decision on dismissal of a case along with a detailed reason without delay.

 

Article 20 (Deliberation)

① Where a case of a research ethics violation is reported or perceived, the Research Ethics Committee shall deliberate (investigate, check, and discuss) and make a decision within 90 days.

② The Research Ethics Committee shall put priority on internal settlement of problems through deliberation of a reported/perceived case of a research ethics violation, getting to the bottom of the matter by listening to what the reporter, the suspect or witnesses says/say. When asking for the presence of an outside expert for reference, the Research Ethics Committee may pay relevant expenses within budget.

③ The Research Ethics Committee shall give the suspect a sufficient opportunity to explain the situation.

④ Upon completion of deliberation of a reported/perceived case, the Research Ethics Committee shall submit a report to the KSA President.

⑤ Upon receiving the report stated in the foregoing ④, the KSA President shall inform the Board of Directors.

 

Article 21 (Sanctions)

① As regards to a member who is judged to have perpetrated a research ethics violation stated in Article 14 hereof, the Research Ethics Committee may impose one or more sanctions stated in the following.

1. Warning to the violator about non-disclosure
2. Deletion of the treatise in question from the list of the 󰡔Korean Journal of Sociology󰡕 treatises
3. The author of the treatise in question will not be allowed to ask 󰡔Korean Journal of Sociology󰡕 alone or with others to carry his/her treatise at least for 3 (three) years from the relevant judgment
4. The violator will not be allowed to act as a judge of treatises contributed to Korean Journal of Sociology
5. The violator will not be allowed to take part in academic events held or hosted by the KSA
6. The violator will not be allowed to receive research expenses or scholarship funding through a KSA-supported program
7. The violator will not be allowed to receive awards presented by the KSA
8. Warning issued to the violator through the KSA’s homepage or newsletter
9. Depriving the violator of his/her status as an executive member of the KSA, if applicable
10. Depriving the violator of his/her KSA membership

② The report stated in Article 20 ④ shall include the type and period of the sanction.

③ Upon receiving the report stated in the foregoing ②, the KSA President shall inform the reporter and the suspect of the decision made in writing.

④ Upon being informed of the decision stated in the foregoing ③, the reporter or the suspect may submit an appeal within 30 (thirty) days. In such a case, the KSA President may ask the Research Ethics Committee to redeliberate it only once.

⑤ In connection with the foregoing ④, the Chairperson of the Research Ethics Committee shall decide the appeal within 90 (ninety) days. The quorum for a second decision shall be per what is stated in Article 17 ②.

⑥ No request shall be made for further deliberation of the matter whose re-deliberation has been made by the Research Ethics Committee.

 

Article 22 (Dismissal of Reports)

① The Research Ethics Committee shall dismiss the case of a report on a research ethics violation if it falls under any one of the following.

1. Where the content of the report is clearly untrue or there is no objective evidence for recognizing it as true
2. Where the case is found not to constitute a research ethics violation under Article 14 hereof as a result of investigation
3. Where damage recovery has been made and thus no further remedial measures are required

② The Research Ethics Committee shall inform the reporter and the suspect of its dismissal of the report along with the reason.

 

Article 23 (Other Measures to be Taken)

① The Research Ethics Committee may take a step designed to remedy a result of a research ethics violation.

② The Research Ethics Committee shall keep its reports on research ethics violations permanently.

③ The Research Ethics Committee may decide whether to disclose the contents of the report or submit it to the court stated in the foregoing ② per the procedure stated in Article 17 ② hereof.

 

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Additional Rule (12/20/2013)

Article 1 (Date of Implementation)

This Code shall be implemented on January 1, 2014.

 

Article 2 (Interim Measures)

This Code shall not apply to a case whose deliberation on a research ethics violation was started before the date of implementation.

 

Article 3 (Taking Oath under this Code)

Those wishing to join the KSA as members shall take an oath under this Code. Existing members shall be deemed to have taken an oath on the date of implementation.