Fostering Research Integrity through Training: The training materials of four EU-funded projects through the lens of pedagogical underpinnings and three taxonomies of learning

List of Authors

  1. Erika Löfström ,  
  2. Tom Lindemann ,  
  3. Fenneke Blom ,  
  4. Natalie Evans ,  
  5. Mariette van den Hoven
    ,  
  6. Giulia Inguaggiato ,  
  7. Panagiotis Kavouras ,  
  8. Dirk Lanzerath
    ,  
  9. Julia Priess-Buchheit ,  
  10. Rita Santos
    ,  
  11. Anu Tammeleht
    ,  
  12. P. J. Wall
    ,  
  13. Linda Zollitsch
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Abstract

Background

This article provides an analysis of the pedagogical underpinnings that characterise the research integrity (RI) training approaches and materials developed by four European Union - funded projects. The approaches taken by these projects include a dialogical approach, an empowerment approach, a virtue ethics approach, and a constructivist case-based approach. We analysed the materials/trainings created in the projects. In doing so, we propose how to make use of a structured way of working with learning objectives, in order to ensure that research integrity training meets the needs of its target groups.

Methods

We applied qualitative, deductive content analysis in which we analysed the learning objectives stated in the training schemes of the four projects. A total of 46 learning objectives were analysed using three learning taxonomies, namely the revised Bloom's Taxonomy, the SOLO Taxonomy, and the Taxonomy of Significant Learning.

Results

The results show that the four RI trainings make use of either a constructivist or a socio-constructivist understanding of learning, implement activating and engaging learning activities, and emphasise high-order learning objectives.

Conclusions

The analysis suggests that taxonomies are applicable to various pedagogical underpinnings and can help trainers to communicate the objectives of training and learners to relate their expectations to the objectives. We identify implications for training design and suggest recommendations for training developers. It is advisable to pay attention to learning objectives dedicated to foster the higher levels of learning and understanding. Less commonly applied taxonomies in the context of integrity training, such as the Taxonomy of Significant Learning can help to identify relevant learning objectives both for trainers as well as learners. Research cultures and disciplinary differences are generally not spelled out at the level of learning objectives highlighting the need to consider these explicitly in training implementation.

Corresponding author
Erika Löfström
0000-0002-0838-9626
Grant information

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreements No 824586 (Empowering students through evidence-based, scaffolded learning of Responsible Conduct in Research [INTEGRITY]; No 824488 (Rotatory role-playing and role-models to enhance the research integrity culture [Path2Integrity]); No 787580 (Virtue based ethics and Integrity of Research: Train-the-Trainer programme for Upholding the principles and practices of the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity [VIRT2UE]); and No 710184 (European Network of Research Ethics and Research Integrity [ENERI]). The manuscript was completed in a project, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101094714 (Beyond Bad Apples: Towards a Behavioural and Evidence-Based Approach to Promote Research Ethics and Research Integrity in Europe [BEYOND BAD APPLES]).

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Copyright
© 2025 Erika Löfström (Corresponding Author, Co-Author); Tom Lindemann (Co-Author); Fenneke Blom (Co-Author); Natalie Evans (Co-Author); Mariette van den Hoven (Co-Author); Giulia Inguaggiato (Co-Author); Panagiotis Kavouras (Co-Author); Dirk Lanzerath (Co-Author); Julia Priess-Buchheit (Co-Author); Rita Santos (Co-Author); Anu Tammeleht (Co-Author); P. J. Wall (Co-Author); Linda Zollitsch (Co-Author) Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Authors & roles

Erika Löfström

Department of Education, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Roles
Corresponding Author, Co-Author, Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Validation, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0002-0838-9626

Tom Lindemann

Luxembourg Agency for Research Integrity, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Project Administration, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0002-9460-0896

Fenneke Blom

Research Support, Research Policy Office, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0003-4446-327X

Natalie Evans

Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Ethics Law and Humanities, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Project Administration, Validation, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0001-7124-9282

Mariette van den Hoven

Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Ethics Law and Humanities, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Funding Acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing

Giulia Inguaggiato

Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Ethics Law and Humanities, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0003-2340-908X

Panagiotis Kavouras

Centre for Medical Ethics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0001-8004-6196

Dirk Lanzerath

German Reference Centre for Ethics in the Life Sciences (DRZE), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Funding Acquisition, Project Administration, Writing – Original Draft Preparation

Julia Priess-Buchheit

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Funding Acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project Administration, Validation, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0003-3029-9683

Rita Santos

Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Ethics Law and Humanities, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing

Anu Tammeleht

Department of Education, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

Roles
Co-Author, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing

P. J. Wall

ADAPT Centre, Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Validation, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing

Linda Zollitsch

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany

Roles
Co-Author, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0001-9592-3382

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