RPO / 005 / STANDARDS
How we expect research to be discussed.
These are the norms RPO holds itself and the network to. They are commitments, not certifications.
RPO / 001
Research integrity
Represent work accurately, including when it is inconvenient. Do not overstate what a result shows, and do not present a hypothesis as a finding.
RPO / 002
Evidence and sourcing
Point to the source. A claim worth making is worth citing, and a claim that cannot be sourced should be described as what it is — an observation, an anecdote, or a question.
RPO / 003
Transparency
Be clear about your interests. If you have a commercial, professional or personal stake in how something is interpreted, say so.
RPO / 004
Respectful discussion
Disagree with the argument. Scientific disagreement is normal and useful; treating a person as the problem is neither.
RPO / 005
Responsible interpretation
In vitro is not in vivo. An animal model is not a human outcome. A mechanism is not an effect. Preliminary results are preliminary, and saying so costs nothing.
RPO / 006
Limitations of emerging research
Emerging areas have thin literature, unsettled terminology and few replications. That is what makes them interesting and what makes confident conclusions premature.
RPO / 007
Independence
RPO is not funded by, affiliated with, or acting on behalf of any manufacturer, supplier or institution. Nothing is sold here, and nothing is promoted here.
RPO / 008
Privacy and respect for members
What you tell RPO is used to understand the network and to contact you. It is not sold, not shared with partners, and not enriched from data brokers.
RPO / WHAT THESE ARE NOT
These standards are not a regulatory approval, an accreditation, a certification, or a statement of compliance with any framework. RPO does not audit, verify or certify anyone against them. They describe how we intend to operate.
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