Purpose
The Global Autism Research Center (GARC) is committed to producing and supporting research that is honest, transparent, responsible, traceable, and respectful of the people and communities it concerns.
This policy establishes the core principles that apply to GARC research, evidence reviews, reports, data projects, policy work, frameworks, toolkits, and other knowledge outputs.
Our Principles
GARC expects research activities to demonstrate:
- honesty in the design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of research;
- transparency about methods, evidence, limitations, funding, and relevant interests;
- appropriate care and rigor in collecting, interpreting, and presenting information;
- accountability for research decisions and published outputs;
- respect for participants, collaborators, researchers, institutions, and communities;
- accurate citation and attribution of ideas, evidence, data, and contributions;
- appropriate protection and management of research data;
- responsible use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Evidence and Interpretation
GARC distinguishes, wherever reasonably possible, between:
- established evidence;
- emerging evidence;
- interpretation;
- professional or expert opinion;
- institutional recommendations.
Research findings should not be presented with greater certainty than the evidence supports.
Material limitations, uncertainty, and relevant conflicting evidence should be disclosed.
Research Misconduct
GARC does not accept:
- fabrication of data or results;
- falsification or manipulation of evidence;
- plagiarism;
- deliberate misrepresentation of sources;
- undisclosed inappropriate duplication;
- misleading attribution of authorship;
- concealment of material conflicts of interest;
- deliberate suppression or distortion of findings.
Concerns about possible breaches should be assessed fairly, confidentially, and proportionately.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
AI tools may support research and institutional work where appropriate, but responsibility for accuracy, integrity, confidentiality, attribution, and final outputs remains with the human authors and responsible institutional personnel.
Sensitive or confidential information must not be entered into AI systems without appropriate authorization and safeguards.
Corrections
Where a material error is identified in a GARC publication, GARC may correct, update, replace, or withdraw the affected material as appropriate.
Material corrections should be documented transparently.
Accountability
Research integrity is a shared responsibility across leadership, researchers, contributors, reviewers, and collaborators.
This policy should be read together with GARC's Research Ethics Framework, Publication & Authorship Policy, Data Governance & Privacy Policy, and Conflict of Interest Policy.