Research Ethics

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Research Ethics
Tom Powers Delaware Biotechnology Institute
Department of Philosophy University of Delaware
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Outline

• 1. Introduction research ethics and moral
  principles
• 2. Case 1 group discussion reconvene
• 3. 10 minute break
• 4. Case 2 group discussion reconvene
• 5. Case 3 group discussion reconvene
• 6. Professional ethical codes

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What is the focus of research ethics?
Plagiarism Fabrication falsification of
data Conflicts of Interest Authorship Experimental
subjects
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What contributes to ethical problems in research?

• Garden-variety vices dishonesty, envy,
  exploitation, lack of collegiality,
  self-promotion, sloth, arrogance, etc., etc.

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Lets start by consideringCase 1
Grad student Jones begins an analysis on a large
data set in pumpkin genetics--data that she has
generated in a lab run by Prof. Turnip. The
analysis will be the basis of her dissertation.
The work looks promising, and she hopes to
conduct other analyses after the initial one, but
Turnip wants to hand over the data to a lab run
by a company from which Turnip has received
support in the past. The company wants to go to
market with some GM pumpkin seeds, as opposed to
publishing further genetic studies. Turnip
doesnt admit this to Jones, however, pleading
merely that the data set is too large for Jones
to exploit anyway. Jones starts to
mischaracterize her results to Turnip. Is anyone
in the wrong here?
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Some specialized principles of research ethics
may help.
Philosophical Foundations of Scientific
Ethics By David Resnik http//www.physics.emich.e
du/mthomsen/resn1.htm 1. Scientific Honesty Do
not commit scientific fraud, i.e. do not
fabricate, fudge, trim, cook, destroy, or
misrepresent data. 2. Carefulness Strive to
avoid careless errors or sloppiness in all
aspects of scientific work. 3. Intellectual
Freedom Scientists should be allowed to pursue
new ideas and criticize old ones. They should
be free to conduct research they find
interesting. 4. Openness i.e. share data,
results, methods, theories, equipment, and so on.
Allow people to see your work, be open to
criticism. 5. The principle of credit Do not
plagiarize the work of other scientists, give
credit where credit is due (but not where it is
not due). 6. The principle of public
responsibility Report research in the public
media when a) the research has an important and
direct bearing on human happiness and b) the
research has been sufficiently validated by
scientific peers.
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Case 2

• Dr. Charles, a mid-career faculty member, was
  revising and updating a book chapter. During the
  course of her reading, she came upon a chapter in
  a major text by Dr. Long, a department chair in a
  leading psychology department, that contained
  long passages from her previous chapter without
  attribution.
• Dr. Charles called Dr. Long and confronted
  him with her finding. At first, he vehemently
  denied having used any of Dr. Charles' text
  inappropriately. Dr. Charles then faxed Dr. Long
  copies of the offending passages. After some
  delay, Dr. Long finally responded, acknowledging
  that the language was indeed remarkably similar
  he noted that he had engaged younger members of
  his research team to write portions of the
  chapter because he was very busy at the time that
  the deadline was approaching. Furthermore, to
  defend himself, he pointed out that much of the
  original research on which her chapter was based
  was derived from the work of his team. He
  admitted only to negligence in not adequately
  monitoring the activities of his students and
  subordinates.
• Dr. Charles replied that the students/other
  team members were not acknowledged in Dr. Long's
  chapter either, and that admission of plagiarism
  required more than an apology. She indicated her
  intention to report the matter to Dr. Long's dean
  and the editor of the text his and hers?.
• From www.responsibility.research.umich.edu/.
  Case adapted by Shaké Ketefian from Association
  of American Medical Colleges (1994)."Teaching the
  Responsible Conduct of Research Through a Case
  Study Approach."
• Washington, D.C., AAMC. Case B6, pages 51-52.

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Some general ethical theories might help

• Utilitarianism Act so as to maximize total
  social (stakeholder?) happiness
• Kantianism 1. Act only in ways that are
  universalizable 2. Treat people as ends and
  never merely as means
• Virtue Ethics Practice those virtues (courage,
  honesty, etc.) that will help you attain the good
  life.

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Case 3

• Jerry Vaughn contracted with a federal agency to
  conduct a social impact assessment of proposed
  topographic changes in an aboriginal habitat in a
  far north region of North America. The contract
  contained no stipulations regarding ownership of
  data. In order to determine the potential impacts
  on the culture of peoples living in that region,
  Vaughn engaged in participant observation
  (keeping a detailed field notebook of same)
  conducted in-depth personal interviews and took
  over 1,000 photographs of people working,
  socializing, and enjoying other everyday and
  special activities. This work was carried out
  over a one year period. Vaughn was paid 75 of
  his contracted salary and other expenses before
  the fieldwork.
• Vaughn then wrote a 150-page report detailing
  the areas of social life that would be adversely
  affected if the plans were implemented. He
  further noted that, if the plans were implemented
  as proposed, there could be no mitigations that
  could prevent the people's culture from being
  totally altered. Because of these severe
  conclusions, the agency director instructed
  Vaughn to turn over his entire research record in
  order that the agency could solicit another
  opinion on the matter. Furthermore, the director
  told Vaughn that unless he would turn over the
  record, no further payment would be made to him.
• From Handbook on Ethical Issues in Anthropology
  at www.aanet.org/committees/ethics/case2.htm

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Finally, consider some professional ethics codes

• IEEE code of ethics
• American Institute of Chemical Engineers code of
  ethics
• American Anthropological Association Statements
  on Ethics

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Other internet resources

• SEPP Research Integrity Page
• Ethics Updates
• ORI at the US Dept. of HHS

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Contact me!

• tpowers_at_udel.edu