Using Information Ethically

Using information correctly is important for all researchers and an understanding of copyright, academic integrity and research ethics is required. The Library and other professional services are on hand to help you with advice provided on webpages, in Learn and through enquiry services.

Copyright can be confusing and sometimes difficult to understand, but help is at hand to support your research activities. The University Library Copyright advice website contains a lot of useful information and guidance to help you avoid infringing other people’s copyright, as well as advice on how to make the most of your own copyright, whether that’s sharing with others or enabling them to re-use the content you create through Creative Commons licences. For example, on the website, you will find information relating to keeping your thesis legal, licences, using third party material, accessing re-usable online material and a section of frequently asked questions.

The Library provides training for Research Staff and Doctoral Researchers on Copyright and your thesis which can be booked through the Doctoral College Development Portal.

If you have a specific copyright enquiry, please send an email to copyright@lboro.ac.uk.

Correct citation and good academic practice can ensure you use others’ information ethically and thus maintain your academic integrity. Cite them right is a resource that the university subscribes to which can help you with citations and referencing. If accessing off campus please make sure you use the VPN.

If you are a doctoral researcher and are unsure about which referencing style to use, check which ones are used in your school and ask which one your supervisor recommends.

The Library offers on demand training on academic integrity and using information ethically in the Ethical Scholarship section in Research Central on Learn.

Research ethics

As part of your research activities it is very important you consider what data you will be collecting and how you will be doing this. There are a wide range of ethical considerations, such as confidentiality, you need to make before the data can be collected, used and/or published. For information on the Loughborough University research ethics policy, procedures and guidance go to the Project start up section of University's Research Support website. The Archiving your data sections might also be helpful.