In its Research Code of Conduct, the University of Nottingham provides the following definition of research misconduct:

Research misconduct means fabrication, falsification, plagiarism or deception in proposing, carrying out or reporting results of research and deliberate, dangerous or negligent deviations from accepted practice in carrying out research and from this Code of Practice. It includes failure to follow established protocols if this failure results in unreasonable risk or harm to humans, other vertebrates or the environment. It also includes assisting in misconduct by other researchers by collusion in, or concealment of, any of the actions listed above. It does not include honest error or honest differences in the design, execution, interpretation or judgement in evaluating research methods or results or misconduct (including gross misconduct) unrelated to the research process.

Adapted from MRC Policy and Procedure for Inquiring into Allegations of Scientific Misconduct, December 1997.