Code of Ethical Conduct
The mission of Sigma Xi is to enhance the health of the research enterprise, foster integrity in science and engineering, and promote the public's understanding of science for the purpose of improving the human condition. Sigma Xi is guided by the core values of excellence, integrity, and companionship as expressed in the Society’s name and motto—Companions in Zealous Research.
- Excellence refers to the ideals of methods, practices, and character that guide researchers in their search to discover truths about the natural world and to create technologies to improve the human condition.
- Integrity refers to the integrated expression of honesty, objectivity, and the other virtues that make for a trustworthy research enterprise.
- Companionship refers to the fellowship, collegiality, and mutual respect among members of the scientific community who cooperatively seek to achieve these goals.
To uphold these values and fulfill its mission, Sigma Xi expects those persons honored with membership to take an active role in upholding this code of ethical conduct.
- Responsibility to the scientific process: Sigma Xi members will advance honor, integrity, and honesty in all research activities. They will:
- work to advance the trustworthiness of scientific research
- communicate their results accurately, with adequate experimental detail, proper citation of relevant publications, and appropriate acknowledgement of all contributors to the work
- adhere to the best practices of their professional organizations and their subdisciplines, including all applicable guidelines governing research with animal and/or human subjects
- refuse to tolerate fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation
- refuse to tolerate cheating, stealing, or plagiarism
- move promptly to correct the record when errors in research are detected
- Responsibility to the scientific community: Sigma Xi members will treat all persons involved in the research enterprise with respect. They will:
- cultivate a culture of collegiality among all researchers, staff, students, and other trainees
- be welcoming and supportive mentors, mindful of their role as positive role models
- review the work of their peers fairly and objectively, maintaining confidentiality when requested
- assess the accomplishments and potential of students and others in their evaluations and/or letters of recommendation fairly and honestly
- avoid and oppose behaviors such as sexual harassment or any form of intimidation which includes bullying, coercion, or threat of influence to dominate others, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or any action that creates a hostile working environment
- avoid and oppose discriminatory behavior, which includes prejudicial treatment based on age, creed, cultural background, ethnicity, gender, national origin, occupation, physical ability, race, religious affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic
- Responsibility to the public: Sigma Xi members will work to ensure that the wider public can have confidence in the research enterprise. They will:
- demonstrate scientific integrity and professionalism in all dealings with the public
- be mindful of the impacts, including possible harms and benefits, of their research upon the human condition
- work to enhance public understanding of science and the research enterprise
- use public funds responsibly in their research
- communicate publicly-funded research findings in a transparent and timely manner to the scientific community and wider audiences, as appropriate
- disclose all personal and/or financial interests that could be perceived as a conflict of interest with their research, reviewing activities, or mentorship