Designing research and publication ethics assignments for doctoral students in higher education institutes

An ethical and compliant research ecosystem is essential for progress in STEM research. Educators play a crucial role in fostering this environment by raising students’ awareness of critical topics, such as research and publication ethics, as outlined in their curriculum. Cultivating an ethical culture among all stakeholders at higher education institutions helps reduce breaches of integrity. However, students in STEM fields often enter academic programs with varying levels of understanding regarding proper ethical conduct, and a lack of training in research integrity has led to instances of plagiarism and other ethical violations. Therefore, it is crucial to provide comprehensive training on good research practices, academic integrity, and publication ethics to doctoral candidates. Educators frequently face challenges in designing mandatory courses and assignments that effectively address research and publication ethics. Based on data and experience from a series of past courses in this area, this article aims to offer step-by-step guidelines for developing effective assignments tailored to doctoral students. It also presents a variety of assignment examples, outlines evaluation criteria, and discusses associated challenges. By providing detailed guidance on effective assignment design, this article seeks to support educators across institutions in teaching research and publication ethics, assessing student learning, and ultimately reducing instances of research misconduct.