Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Basic

This course covers the core norms, principles, regulations, and rules governing the practice of research.

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About this Course

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) require certain categories of researchers to receive RCR training. However, RCR is increasingly viewed as an essential component of training, regardless of a researcher’s source of funding.

This course provides an in-depth review of the core RCR topics including authorship, collaborative research, conflicts of interest, human subjects, and research misconduct. Case studies and video examples are used to supplement key concepts.

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Language Availability: English, Korean, Spanish

Suggested Audiences: Faculty, Postdoctoral Researchers, Principal Investigators, Staff, Students

Organizational Subscription Price: Included in Responsible Conduct of Research series, available as part of an organizational subscription package or for $675 per year/per site as a subscription add-on for government and non-profit organizations; $750 per year/per site as a subscription add-on for for-profit organizations
Independent Learner Price: $99 per person

Demo Instructions


Course Content

Introduction to RCR (RCR-Basic)

Introduces concepts and principles relating to what has come to be known as the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), and provides an overview of the subject matter covered in this course.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 17009 (English), 20798 (Spanish)
Author(s): Jason Borenstein, PhD
 - CITI Program; Reid Cushman, PhD - CITI Program

Authorship (RCR-Basic) CME/CEU Badge

Provides an overview of the ethical responsibilities of authors. It also discusses the criteria used to determine authorship, the range of acceptable authorship practices, circumstances where acknowledgement is appropriate, and challenging and problematic authorship practices.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 16597 (English), 20790 (Spanish)
Author(s): Stephanie J. Bird, PhD
 - Science and Engineering Ethics

Collaborative Research (RCR-Basic) CME/CEU Badge

Discusses the ethical issues relating to collaborative research partnerships. It also includes a discussion of issues related to collaborating with researchers from other disciplines and with industry.

Note: It is recommended that this module be Required or Supplemental depending on the learner group.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 16598 (English), 20791 (Spanish)
Author(s): Elizabeth Heitman, PhD
 - Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Sergio Litewka, MD, MPH - University of Miami

Conflicts of Interest and Commitment (RCR-Basic) CME/CEU Badge

Describes the different types of conflicts of interest, conflicts of commitment, reasons why conflicts of interest and commitment can be problematic, and strategies that may mitigate or eliminate the impact of conflicts of interest.

Please note this does not replace the Conflicts of Interest (COI) course that covers the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) regulations on financial conflicts of interest.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 16599 (English), 20792 (Spanish)
Author(s): Benjamin A. Bell
 - University of Southern California

Data Management (RCR-Basic) CME/CEU Badge

Identifies the steps, concepts, and importance of data management throughout a research study. The module also discusses institutional support services that can help manage research data; methodological, technological, and regulatory considerations that affect data management practices; documentation needed to facilitate the accessibility and reproducibility of research findings; and ethical and compliance issues relating to data ownership, sharing, and protection.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 20896 (English)
, 20793 (Spanish)
Author(s): Julie Goldman, BS, MLIS - Harvard Medical School, Countway Library

Mentoring and Healthy Research Environments (RCR-Basic) CME/CEU Badge

Discusses mentoring and why it is essential to research, factors that can make mentoring relationships challenging, and practices and strategies mentors and mentees can use to establish and navigate mentor-mentee relationships successfully. The module also describes a psychologically healthy and supportive research environment and the leadership behaviors mentors can use to create positive research environments.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 20983 (English), 20795 (Spanish)
Author(s): Tristan McIntosh, PhD - Washington University School of Medicine; Alison Antes, PhD - Washington University School of Medicine

Peer Review (RCR-Basic) CME/CEU Badge

Focuses on the ethical responsibilities of authors, editors, and reviewers of manuscripts, as well as a discussion of the grant proposal review process.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 16603 (English), 20796 (Spanish)
Author(s): Adil Shamoo, PhD, MSc, CIP - 
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Plagiarism (RCR-Basic) CME/CEU Badge

Discusses plagiarism, a major violation of academic integrity standards and research misconduct. It presents learners with a detailed discussion of what constitutes plagiarism, the parameters of plagiarism, the basic principles of scholarship, the distinction between summarizing and paraphrasing, and proper citation usage.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 15156 (English), 20802 (Spanish)
Author(s): Miguel Roig, PhD - St. John's University

Reproducibility of Research Results

Discusses factors that contribute to the lack of reproducibility and the resulting problems that can emerge. The module also describes the stakeholders affected by reproducibility problems, a collection of reproducibility initiatives, and strategies that can mitigate or prevent irreproducibility.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 17756 (English), 20799 (Spanish)
Author(s): Teri A. Hamill, PhD - Nova Southeastern University

Research Involving Human Subjects (RCR-Basic) CME/CEU Badge

Provides an introduction to ethical and regulatory issues relating to the participation of human beings in research. It includes a description of the informed consent process and the Common Rule—a set of regulations adopted by a number of U.S. federal agencies.

Please note this is not intended to replace the Human Subjects Research (HSR) courses or other HSR training required by federal agencies or Institutional Review Boards (IRBs).

Note: It is recommended that this module be Required or Supplemental depending on the learner group.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 13566 (English)
Author(s): Jason Borenstein, PhD - CITI Program

Using Animal Subjects in Research (RCR-Basic) CME/CEU Badge

Provides an introduction to ethical and regulatory issues relating to the use of animal subjects in research. It includes a description of federal regulations governing how research with animal subjects should be conducted.

Please note this not intended to replace the Animal Care and Use (ACU) courses or other ACU training required by federal agencies or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs).

Note: It is recommended that this module be Required or Supplemental depending on the learner group.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 13301 (English)

Author(s): Paul Braunschweiger, PhD - CITI Program

Research Misconduct (RCR-Basic) CME/CEU Badge

Describes the three practices (fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism) that constitute research misconduct and the steps that can be taken to handle allegations of research misconduct.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 16604 (English), 20797 (Spanish)
Author(s): Helene Lake-Bullock, PhD, JD
 - University of Kentucky; Marianne M. Elliott, MS, CIP
 - Applied Research Ethics, LLC


Additional Modules of Interest

Environmental and Social Dimensions of Engineering Research

Provides an overview of the responsibilities that engineering researchers have when it comes to environmental and social considerations. It includes a discussion of moral development, risk, and sustainability.

Recommended Use: Supplemental
ID (Language): 12835 (English)
Author(s): Daniel Vallero, PhD, MSCRP, MS, M.ASCE - Duke University

Financial Responsibility CME/CEU Badge

Provides an overview of the financial responsibilities associated with sponsored programs administration. It is specifically designed for research administrators.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 16601 (English)
, 20794 (Spanish)
Author(s): Sandra M. Nordahl, CRA - Nordahl Worldwide Consulting

Research, Ethics, and Society

Introduces social responsibilities of researchers. The discussion includes the meaning of social responsibility, why researchers have social responsibilities, and how researchers can act on their social responsibilities.

Recommended Use: Supplemental
ID (Language): 15198 (English)
Author(s): Karin Ellison, PhD
 - Arizona State University; Karen Wellner, PhD
 - Chandler-Gilbert Community College

Communicating with the Public

Provides an in-depth discussion on communicating research results to the public, including approaches for making results more understandable to difference audiences.

Recommended Use: Supplemental
ID (Language): 19270 (English), 20800 (Spanish)
Author(s): Elizabeth Bass, MPH - Stony Brook University

Presentation of Research Findings

Discusses how to present research findings accurately for publication, including strategies for preparing figures, graphs, and digital images.

Recommended Use: Supplemental
ID (Language): 19355 (English), 20801 (Spanish)
Author(s): Christina N. Bennett, PhD - The American Psychological Society; Douglas Cromey, MS - University of Arizona


CME/CEU Credits

To purchase CE credits and units, you need to be affiliated with an organization that subscribes to this course or buy it as an independent learner first. Learn more about CE/CME Credits.

Physicians
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit
4 Credits
(7 CE certified modules)
$70

6 Credits
(10 CE certified modules)
$90
1 June 2021
31 May 2024
Psychologists
CEP Credit/Hour
4 Credits
(7 CE certified modules)
$70

6 Credits
(10 CE certified modules)
$90
1 June 2021
31 May 2024
Pharmacists
CPE Contact Hour
4 Credits
(7 CE certified modules)
$70

6 Credits
(10 CE certified modules)
$90
1 June 2021
31 May 2024
Dentists
ADA CERP Credit
4 Credits
(7 CE certified modules)
$70

6 Credits
(10 CE certified modules)
$90
1 May 2022
31 May 2024
Optometrists
COPE CE Credit
4 Credits
(7 CE certified modules)
$70

6 Credits
(10 CE certified modules)
$90
1 May 2022
31 May 2024
Nurses
Nursing Contact Hour
4 credits
(7 CE certified modules)
$60

6 Credits
(10 CE certified modules)
$80
1 June 2021
31 May 2024
Dietitians
CDR CPEU
4 Credits
(7 CE certified modules)
$60

6 Credits
(10 CE certified modules)
$80
1 May 2022
31 May 2024
Social Workers
Ethics CE Credit
4 Credits
(7 CE certified modules)
$60

6 Credits
(10 CE certified modules)
$80
1 June 2021
31 May 2024
Athletic Trainers
Category A hour/CEU
4 Credits
(7 CE certified modules)
$60

6 Credits
(10 CE certified modules)
$80
1 May 2022
31 May 2024
Other Participants
Certificate of Participation
4 Credits
(7 CE certified modules)
$60

6 Credits
(10 CE certified modules)
$80
1 June 2021
31 May 2024


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