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DRAFT: EEGManySteps Code of Conduct

Our Commitment

The EEGManySteps initiative is committed to fostering an open, inclusive, and collaborative environment for all participants, regardless of their background, experience level, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, personal appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, nationality, or institutional affiliation.

As a community-driven, inter-institute collaboration focused on advancing mobile brain/body imaging (MoBI) research, we are dedicated to creating a space where researchers can contribute meaningfully to Open Science while maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct and scientific integrity.

Our Values

  • Open Science: We believe in making research materials, datasets, and software publicly accessible and well-documented
  • Collaboration: We value inter-institute and international partnerships that strengthen our collective understanding
  • Inclusivity: We welcome researchers at all career stages and from diverse backgrounds
  • Reproducibility: We strive to enhance the consistency and reliability of EEG research in mobile environments
  • Transparency: We maintain open communication about our processes, decisions, and findings
  • Community-driven: We recognize that this initiative arose from the direct needs of researchers and continues to be shaped by community input

Expected Behavior

All participants in the EEGManySteps community are expected to:

Professional Conduct

  • Treat all community members with respect, kindness, and professionalism
  • Communicate constructively and provide feedback in a supportive manner
  • Acknowledge and credit the contributions of others appropriately
  • Share knowledge and resources openly to benefit the broader community
  • Respect differing viewpoints and experiences in scientific discussions

Collaborative Practices

  • Participate actively and constructively in meetings, discussions, and work packages
  • Meet commitments and deadlines as outlined in your role (Steering Committee, Advisory Board, etc.)
  • Communicate proactively about challenges, delays, or changes in availability
  • Share resources, expertise, and institutional knowledge to support project goals
  • Maintain transparency in data collection, analysis, and reporting practices

Open Science Principles

  • Follow established protocols for data sharing including FAIR principles
  • Respect intellectual property rights and ethical guidelines for data use
  • Provide clear documentation for shared datasets, code, and methodologies
  • Support reproducible research practices through proper version control and documentation
  • Adhere to institutional ethics board requirements for data sharing

Communication Standards

  • Use respectful and professional language in all communications (Discord, email, meetings, GitHub)
  • Be patient with colleagues who may have different levels of technical expertise
  • Ask questions when uncertain rather than making assumptions
  • Provide constructive feedback during peer review and collaborative work
  • Maintain confidentiality when working with sensitive or unpublished data

Unacceptable Behavior

The following behaviors are considered unacceptable within our community:

Harassment and Discrimination

  • Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination based on any personal characteristics
  • Unwelcome sexual attention or advances
  • Personal attacks, insults, or derogatory comments
  • Public or private harassment of any kind
  • Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following

Unprofessional Conduct

  • Disrupting meetings, presentations, or collaborative work
  • Spreading misinformation or making false claims about research findings
  • Plagiarism or misrepresentation of others' work
  • Violation of confidentiality agreements or data use policies
  • Failure to disclose conflicts of interest

Research Misconduct

  • Falsification or fabrication of data
  • Improper data handling or sharing without appropriate permissions
  • Violation of research ethics or institutional review board requirements
  • Failure to properly cite or acknowledge sources and collaborators

Work Package and Role-Specific Guidelines

Steering Committee Members

  • Attend monthly meetings and actively participate in assigned work packages
  • Maintain minimum one-year commitment to the project
  • Take on specific tasks and leadership responsibilities within work packages
  • Communicate regularly with Advisory Board and other SC members about progress

Advisory Board Members

  • Provide guidance and feedback during quarterly/biannual meetings
  • Share expertise to help guide project direction and decision-making
  • Support the project through mentorship and institutional connections
  • Maintain minimum one-year advisory commitment

Data Contributors

  • Ensure all shared data meets ethical approval requirements
  • Follow the requirements of the project and provide complete metadata
  • Respect data use agreements and participant privacy protections

Analysts and Contributors

  • Follow established analysis protocols and report methodology transparently
  • Share code and analysis pipelines according to open science principles
  • Collaborate respectfully with other analysts and provide constructive peer review

Reporting Guidelines

If you experience or witness behavior that violates this Code of Conduct, please report it promptly through one of the following channels:

Primary Contact

Alternative Contacts

For situations involving the primary contact or requiring different expertise:

  • Any Steering Committee member
  • Advisory Board member at your institution
  • Through private message on Discord to community moderators

What to Include in Your Report

  • Date, time, and location of the incident
  • Description of what happened
  • Names of individuals involved (if comfortable sharing)
  • Any witnesses to the incident
  • Any documentation (screenshots, emails, etc.) if available
  • Whether you have reported this to anyone else

Confidentiality

All reports will be handled with appropriate confidentiality. We will only share information on a need-to-know basis to address the situation effectively.

Enforcement

Investigation Process

  1. Initial Response: Reports will be acknowledged within 48 hours
  2. Investigation: The Steering Committee will review the situation and gather additional information as needed
  3. Consultation: Advisory Board members may be consulted for guidance on appropriate responses
  4. Resolution: Actions will be taken proportional to the severity and context of the violation

Possible Actions

Depending on the severity and context, responses may include:

  • Warning: Private discussion about the behavior and expectations
  • Temporary Suspension: Temporary removal from specific activities, meetings, or communication channels
  • Work Package Reassignment: Moving individuals to different roles or responsibilities
  • Project Removal: Permanent removal from the EEGManySteps initiative
  • Institutional Notification: In cases of research misconduct or serious violations

Appeals Process

Individuals subject to enforcement actions may appeal the decision by:

  • Submitting a written appeal to the Advisory Board within 14 days
  • Providing additional context or information not previously considered
  • Requesting mediation through a neutral third party

Acknowledgment and Updates

Community Input

This Code of Conduct reflects our community's values and may be updated based on:

  • Community feedback and suggestions
  • Evolving best practices in open science collaborations
  • Changes in project structure or scope
  • Legal or institutional requirement updates

Agreement

By participating in EEGManySteps activities, you agree to abide by this Code of Conduct and contribute to creating a positive, productive research environment.

Questions

If you have questions about this Code of Conduct or need clarification about any guidelines, please reach out to:

  • EEG ManySteps Gmail Account: eegmanysteps@gmail.com
  • Any Steering Committee member
  • Through Discord community channels

This Code of Conduct is adapted from best practices in open source and research communities, including the Contributor Covenant and guidelines from other "Many" initiatives in psychological and neuroscience research.

Last Updated: 23/05/2025
Version: 0.1