{"id":90587,"date":"2018-10-11T12:09:32","date_gmt":"2018-10-11T10:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=90587"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:23:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:23:07","slug":"government-commissioned-research-also-needs-to-be-independent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/10\/11\/government-commissioned-research-also-needs-to-be-independent\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Government-commissioned research also needs to be independent\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do researchers lose their academic independence when they work for government clients? It shouldn\u2019t happen, says Minister Van Engelshoven. She has ordered a study to determine whether the government is using the wrong terms and conditions.<\/p>\n

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Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven<\/span><\/p>

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People have a strong faith in science, according to a report<\/a> published by the Rathenau Institute this summer, but this faith is significantly reduced when researchers work on the government\u2019s behalf. This is \u2018a pity to read\u2019, writes<\/a> the Minister in her letter to the House of Representatives today: \u201cResearchers deserve the public\u2019s trust\u201d.<\/p>\n

But do politicians and officials also deserve this trust? NRC Handelsblad<\/em> doesn\u2019t think so. \u201cGovernment bridles science\u201d, was a recent headline<\/a> in the newspaper about the unwanted pressure experienced by researchers.<\/p>\n

It definitely isn\u2019t the first time scientists have sounded the alarm about this problem. Last year, for example, there was a commotion<\/a> when it became clear that WODC, a research bureau affiliated with the Ministry of Justice, was unable to work independently. In the case of a number of studies, including one about the legalisation of cannabis growing, the bureau\u2019s recommendations had actually been determined beforehand. And there are other examples<\/a> besides.<\/p>\n

Fundamentally wrong<\/h2>

\u201cLet me be clear: steering for specific research results is fundamentally wrong,\u201d says Van Engelshoven. \u201cThe researcher needs to work from a position of security and independence, and the client should never push for specific research findings \u2013 even in cases where the conclusions are less favourable in a political and social context.\u201d<\/p>\n

And this point is also included in the Code of Conduct for Integrity in the Central Public Administration, says the Minister. That\u2019s true, although the Code also says: \u201cIf you are acting in a commissioning role, there will always be a certain degree of influencing of aspects of the performed research.\u201d<\/p>\n

As chance would have it, they recently published a new code of conduct<\/a> for academic research. Van Engelshoven is filled with praise for this new document and wants to know which requirements government authorities set for researchers: do they stand up to scrutiny? The authors of the code of conduct will be vetting the government\u2019s terms and conditions at the Minister\u2019s request. \u201cBased on this assessment, we can then determine whether any changes need to be made.\u201d<\/p>\n

Confidentiality<\/h2>

Indeed, looking through these terms and conditions<\/a> there are a few points that at the very least appear at odds with strictly independent research \u2013 such as all sorts of provisions regarding confidentiality and intellectual property rights.<\/p>\n

And the model contracts<\/a> also include a few curious stipulations. For example, while the researcher is allowed to use the original findings as a base for more in-depth research, \u201cthe contractor is not allowed to act against the interests of the Commissioning Party. In cases of doubt, the Contractor should consult beforehand with the Commissioning Party.\u201d And this commissioning party is the government.<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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