The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK Statistics Authority’s (the Authority) statistical production function. Led by the National Statistician, Professor Sir Ian Diamond, the ONS is the UK’s internationally recognised national statistical institute and largest producer of official statistics. The ONS has a lead role in delivering the Authority’s strategy: Statistics for the Public Good.
The ONS is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research excellence and integrity. As an organisation we recognise and endorse the principles of the Concordat to support research integrity published by UK universities, for all research activity undertaken at the ONS. Our approach follows the guidance to implement the Concordat produced by the Government Office for Science (GO-Science).
As the UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics, the ONS has a long-standing commitment to ethics and integrity. This commitment is advanced through several internal, departmental and civil service policies and procedures, including:
- Internal ONS Research Strategy: 2022 to 2025
- the Authority’s Code of Practice for Statistics
- the Authority’s Considering Public Good in Research and Statistics: Ethics Guidance
- Government Social Research (GSR) Technical Framework and Publication Protocol
All staff involved in research at the ONS are required to undertake their work with honesty, rigour and transparency. These values are underpinned by the Seven Principles of Public Life (the ‘Nolan Principles’), the Civil Service Code and the Authority’s Code of Practice for Statistics.
As civil servants and members of the Government Analysis Function, all ONS staff involved in research are part of a Civil Service Profession. This ensures staff follow a set of standards, receive support in their professional practice and career development, and can access relevant training and development opportunities.
The ONS Research Strategy 2022 to 2025 highlights the ONS’s commitment to the ‘Concordat to support research integrity’, outlining the five requirements of the Concordat and how these align to the ONS’s existing policies and procedures. The Strategy focuses on governance, best practice, and identifies processes for dealing with allegations of research misconduct should they arise.
The ONS is committed to a process of ongoing evaluation and monitoring for all research-related activity, including its commitment to research integrity. Evaluation and monitoring are built into the business case and governance process for all research activity, and are undertaken at a project and organisational level and overseen by the ONS Research Strategy Steering Group (RSSG).
Governance
Delivery of the ONS Research Strategy and oversight of research integrity in the ONS is overseen by the RSSG, which is chaired by one of our directors, Osama Rahman.
Changes and developments over the past year
Over the past year, the ONS Research Strategy 2022 to 2025 was published internally. The RSSG was also set up to oversee delivery of the research strategy. The RSSG will provide strategic direction and leadership for ONS research activity, replacing the Research Strategy Working Group (RSWG), which delivered the original Strategy. The RSSG will make important decisions and provide governance and assurance on new research proposals, funding applications and external collaborations.
ONS research must comply with the highest standards of ethics, including being transparent and demonstrably serving the public good. Where rigorous ethical review or advice is required, projects will be referred to the National Statistician’s Data Ethics Advisory Committee. To ensure inclusivity and promote good practice, research in the ONS should follow the recommendations of the Inclusive Data Taskforce by ensuring that analysis recognises under-represented groups and intersectionality, avoiding potentially misleading single characteristic analysis, giving realistic uncertainties for small sample sizes, and, wherever possible, make code and data from analysis available upon publication.
To lead the systematic development of research plans and processes across the whole of the ONS, a senior sponsor for research, Osama Rahman, has been appointed. The role of the senior sponsor is to:
- lead on research integrity in accordance with the Concordat; be the named senior member of staff to oversee research integrity and carry out an annual review of the Concordat’s implementation in the ONS
- act as senior champion for research across the ONS; promote good practice and play a leading part in developing the research culture
- ensure implementation of this research strategy and its action plan, and initiate a refresh of the strategy at the end of its five-year period (or sooner if needed)
Publication of research
The ONS Research Strategy addresses research dissemination and specifies ONS policies regarding publication of research. The research dissemination policies ensure that the ONS will follow recognised good practice and common standards in making its research activities transparent, making data and methods accessible when possible, and ensuring research outputs are findable and accessible to all users.
Reflections on progress and plans for future developments
In the future, the RSSG will focus on the continued refresh and implementation of the ONS Research Strategy and the evaluation of existing research activity and associated policies and procedures. We will continue to develop processes and guidance, which ensure the ONS research community has access to all the tools and training required to deliver the highest standards of research excellence and integrity.
We will also focus on driving research integrity and a positive research culture in our collaborations with external partners, through engagement as well as ensuring the principles of the Concordat are included within our written agreements.
We are looking to set up a Research Integrity Champions network across the ONS with a nominated individual from each ONS directorate acting as a Research Integrity Champion for their directorate. This Research Integrity Champions network will focus on raising awareness of research integrity and research integrity guidance and policies in ONS.
Statement on processes that the organisation has in place for dealing with allegations of misconduct
Allegations of misconduct in research should be made in writing, accompanied by any initial supporting evidence where possible, to the chair of the RSSG via the RSSG secretariat.
ONS staff may wish to submit an allegation of misconduct in research in accordance with the ‘ONS whistleblowing and raising a concern policy’. The nominated officer shall forward such allegations to the chair of the RSSG.
The chair of the RSSG shall, within 10 working days of receiving an allegation:
- acknowledge receipt of the allegation
- notify any person whose misconduct is alleged of the nature of the allegation
- advise all interested parties (for example, ONS Quality Committee, ONS Analysis and Evaluation Committee, National Statistician’s Data Ethics Advisory Group) of the process to be followed for investigation and subsequent possible actions
The chair of the RSSG (or a member of the group nominated by the chair) will conduct a preliminary review to determine if an investigation is required. The preliminary review should consider if any civil service or ONS codes of practice and/or policies are relevant to the allegation or investigation. These may include but are not limited to: Civil Service Code of Conduct, the Authority Research Code of Practice and Accreditation Criteria.
Should an investigation be required, the ‘ONS Investigation Guidance’ on conducting investigations shall be followed and shall include developing a term of reference for the investigation, choosing an appropriate investigator, evidence gathering, final report and recommendations.