Finding the Facts: Equipping RIOs and Committees for Effective Interviewing in Research Misconduct Proceedings - Research misconduct investigations are an essential component of the U.S. research enterprise. Federal regulations require institutions receiving research funding to assess allegations of research misconduct and, when warranted, conduct investigations that often rely heavily on interviews with respondents, complainants, and witnesses. Effective interviews are critical for establishing facts, assessing credibility, and understanding the circumstances surrounding alleged misconduct. However, Research Integrity Officer (RIOs) who facilitate the investigations and faculty members who serve on institutional investigation committees often have little experience conducting investigative interviews, creating a significant training gap. This project will support a two-day national, workshop-style conference designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of RIOs and strengthen their ability to prepare and advise research misconduct investigation committees on conducting interviews. The conference will provide practical, interactive training focused on investigative interviewing in the context of research misconduct proceedings. Conference sessions will address topics such as interview requirements under federal research misconduct regulations, interview planning and strategy, question development, credibility assessment, interview documentation, interview psychology, management of difficult interview situations, and cultural and interpersonal considerations. Speakers will include experienced Research Integrity Officers, representatives from agencies involved in research misconduct oversight, and professionals from other investigative disciplines whose expertise can be adapted to the research integrity environment. Throughout the conference, participants will apply concepts using a common case study developed specifically for the event. A unique feature of the conference will be a live mock interview demonstration in which an actor portrays a respondent in a research misconduct proceeding. Panelists from different investigative backgrounds will conduct interviews in real time, allowing participants to observe how different interviewing approaches can affect information gathering and fact development. The conference will also include structured discussions focused on translating interviewing strategies into practical training approaches for institutional investigation committees. The project aims to: (1) increase participant knowledge of investigative interviewing best practices applicable to research misconduct proceedings; (2) identify and document high-quality interviewing practices that support fair, thorough, and defensible investigations; and (3) provide RIOs with practical tools and resources they can use to educate and support investigation committee members at their home institutions. Conference outcomes will be evaluated through pre- and post-conference surveys assessing knowledge gains, participant satisfaction, and subsequent implementation of conference resources. Within three months of the conference, the project team will develop and distribute a training toolkit containing interview strategies, best practices, case-study materials, and resources for training investigation committee members. The toolkit and a summary of lessons learned will be disseminated nationally through professional organizations, online resources, conference presentations, and scholarly publication. By strengthening the quality and consistency of investigative interviews in research misconduct proceedings, this project will enhance institutional capacity to address allegations of research misconduct, support research integrity, and promote confidence in the research enterprise.
