Short answer

Designers and researchers should actively integrate principles of integrity, transparency, and inclusivity into their research methodologies and project management to enhance the credibility and societal value of their work.

Field: Innovation & Design
Source: PLoS Biology (2020)
Method: Development of guiding principles based on expert consensus and review of existing practices.
Evidence: Strong effect

Adopting principles of responsible practice, transparency, open science, diverse research valuation, and inclusive contribution recognition strengthens the trustworthiness and impact of design research. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in PLoS Biology. Using Development of guiding principles based on expert consensus and review of existing practices., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers and researchers should actively integrate principles of integrity, transparency, and inclusivity into their research methodologies and project management to enhance the credibility and societal value of their work.

Study

Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactStrong effect

Integrity in Design: Five Principles for Trustworthy Research and Development

PLoS Biology · 2020

Key Findings

01Responsible research practices are fundamental to trustworthy research.
02Transparent reporting and open science practices enhance rigor and reproducibility.
03Valuing diverse research contributions and recognizing all scholarly activity promotes inclusivity.
04Assessment systems should explicitly reward behaviors that strengthen research integrity.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

In your next design research project, establish clear guidelines for data handling, reporting, and authorship that align with the five Hong Kong Principles.

Project actions

01When documenting your design process, be meticulous about recording all steps and decisions.
02Consider how you can make your research findings accessible to others, perhaps through a project blog or a shared repository.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can design research practices be enhanced to ensure trustworthiness, rigor, and transparency throughout the research and development lifecycle?

MethodDevelopment of guiding principles based on expert consensus and review of existing practices.

ProcedureThe Hong Kong Principles were developed through a global conference and aim to guide researchers and institutions in fostering research integrity by outlining five key areas for improvement.

ContextResearch and Development, Design Practice, Scientific Community

Variables

IV["Adoption of the five Hong Kong Principles."]

DV["Trustworthiness of research.","Rigor of research.","Transparency of research."]

CV["Disciplinary norms.","Institutional policies."]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Addresses a critical need for research integrity.
+Provides actionable principles for improvement.

Limitations

It can be challenging to fully implement open science practices for proprietary design projects.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the principles lies in their consensus-based development. Validity is supported by their alignment with established ethical guidelines in research.

Think critically

How might the emphasis on 'open science' conflict with the commercial interests of a design company?

Design Principles

"Design research must be conducted with integrity, ensuring transparency, rigor, and inclusivity to build trust and maximize positive impact."

In design practice, the integrity of research underpins the credibility of innovations and the trustworthiness of products. By embedding these principles, design teams can foster a culture of rigor and transparency, leading to more robust and reliable design solutions that better serve society.

What This Means for Your Design

To make design research reliable and trustworthy, follow five rules: be responsible, be open about your work, share your findings, value different kinds of research, and give credit to everyone who helps.

How to use in your project

1.Reference these principles when discussing the ethical considerations and rigor of your design research methodology.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The Hong Kong Principles provide a framework for enhancing research integrity, emphasizing responsible practices, transparency, open science, diverse research valuation, and inclusive contribution recognition. Adhering to these principles strengthens the trustworthiness and impact of design research, ensuring that innovations are robust, rigorous, and ethically sound.

Source

PLoS Biology

The Hong Kong Principles for assessing researchers: Fostering research integrity

journal · 2020

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about integrity in design: five principles for trustworthy research and development?: Designers and researchers should actively integrate principles of integrity, transparency, and inclusivity into their research methodologies and project management to enhance the credibility and societal value of their work. Evidence: PLoS Biology (2020).
Why does "Integrity in Design: Five Principles for Trustworthy Research and Development" matter for design?: In design practice, the integrity of research underpins the credibility of innovations and the trustworthiness of products. By embedding these principles, design teams can foster a culture of rigor and transparency, leading to more robust and reliable design solutions that better serve society.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers and researchers should actively integrate principles of integrity, transparency, and inclusivity into their research methodologies and project management to enhance the credibility and societal value of their work.
What were the main findings?: Responsible research practices are fundamental to trustworthy research.. Transparent reporting and open science practices enhance rigor and reproducibility.. Valuing diverse research contributions and recognizing all scholarly activity promotes inclusivity.. Assessment systems should explicitly reward behaviors that strengthen research integrity.
What research method was used?: Development of guiding principles based on expert consensus and review of existing practices..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2020 journal from PLoS Biology.
What should I do differently in my next project?: In your next design research project, establish clear guidelines for data handling, reporting, and authorship that align with the five Hong Kong Principles.
What are the limitations?: The principles are broad and their implementation may require adaptation to specific disciplinary contexts and organizational structures.