Ethical Climate and Research Integrity in Higher Education: A PRISMA-Based Systematic Review
Keywords:
Ethical climate; research integrity; integrity training; higher education; questionable research practicesAbstract
Research integrity in higher education is shaped not only by individual ethical judgment but also by the institutional environments in which research is conducted. Yet evidence remains fragmented on how ethical climate and integrity training jointly influence research behaviour. This study addressed that gap through a PRISMA-based systematic review of 532 Scopus-indexed studies published from 2010 to 2026. Using a structured extraction framework and narrative thematic synthesis, the review examined study context, participant groups, research designs, ethical climate dimensions, training characteristics, and integrity-related outcomes. Findings show that research integrity is influenced most strongly by six institutional factors: incentive pressure, policy enforcement, reporting safety, mentoring norms, integrity culture, and integrity infrastructure. Integrity training generally improves knowledge and awareness; however, its effects on attitudes and practice are less consistent and depend on relevance, interactivity, coherence, and reinforcement through supervision and institutional support. The review further indicates that the gap between ethical knowledge and actual conduct is often driven by structural pressures within academic environments. Overall, the findings call for a transition from isolated training approaches to integrated institutional systems that normalize, support, and sustain responsible research practice.
https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.25.5.6
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