Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Academic and Research EthicsAcademic and Research EthicsIndividual Integrity and Responsible Individual Integrity and Responsible
KnowledgeKnowledge
Dr. Nancy A. Stanlick
Department of Philosophy
UCF Summer Research Academy – 6/27/09
The Point of ResearchThe Point of Research
1.1. Produce new knowledgeProduce new knowledge2.2. Advance existing knowledgeAdvance existing knowledge
And these are to solve problems, to achieve And these are to solve problems, to achieve goals, and to make our lives better by:goals, and to make our lives better by:
3.3. Teaching new academics and Teaching new academics and professionals the methods to professionals the methods to achieve 1 and 2achieve 1 and 2
The Importance of EthicsThe Importance of Ethics
• Engaging in the human quest to create Engaging in the human quest to create and advance knowledge is therefore and advance knowledge is therefore not to be taken lightly, nor is it to be not to be taken lightly, nor is it to be undertaken by those not committed to undertaken by those not committed to integrity.integrity.
• Our lives, fortunes, health, and safety Our lives, fortunes, health, and safety often depend on the quality (not just often depend on the quality (not just the quantity) of research done, the the quantity) of research done, the accuracy of results reported, and the accuracy of results reported, and the expertise and honesty of those in expertise and honesty of those in whom we put our trust.whom we put our trust.
Conceptions of EthicsConceptions of EthicsTheoryTheory PrinciplePrinciple RuleRule
UtilityUtility UtilityUtility HappinessHappiness
DeontologyDeontology Categorical Categorical ImperativeImperative
Reason, Reason, Respect, Respect,
DutyDuty
VirtueVirtue Community & Community & CharacterCharacter
IntegrityIntegrity
Contract-Contract-arianismarianism
AgreementAgreement Obligation, Obligation, Moral LawMoral Law
Cheating, Passing, and Cheating, Passing, and PassingPassing
•But, but, but – “I But, but, but – “I needneed to to pass.”pass.”
•And that is the best you And that is the best you can or want to do???can or want to do???
Real-Life Examples:Real-Life Examples:
Passing oneself off Passing oneself off as….as….
A JournalistA Journalist: “Shattered Glass” : “Shattered Glass” (clip)(clip)
Cooking news stories to gain attention.
Stephen Glass, a journalist at the prestigious New Republic, “cooked” (or faked) almost all the news stories he wrote both for NR and other major news outlets. He fabricated stories about hackers, politics, health care, and a host of other topics. Then, he wrote a book called The Fabulist – supposedly a fictional story of a journalist who fakes the news.
Movie Trailer from YouTube
From The New York Times: “From China to Panama: A Trail of Poisoned Medicine,” May 5, 2007
“Mr. Wang spent years as a tailor in … manufacturing … in eastern China. But he did not want to remain a common craftsman… He set his sights on trading chemicals….
‘He didn’t know what he was doing,’ Mr. Wang’s older brother … said in an interview. ‘He didn’t understand chemicals.’
But he did understand how to cheat the system.
(He) realized he could earn extra money by substituting cheaper, industrial grade syrup – not approved for human consumption -- for pharmaceutical grade syrup. To trick pharmaceutical buyers, he forged his licenses and laboratory analysis reports, records show.
Mr. Wang later told investigators that he figured no harm would come from the substitution, because he initially tested a small quantity. He did it with the expertise of a former tailor.” (He tasted it.)
(Later, Mr. Wang discovered a cheaper substitute that would increase his profit – diethylene glycol, an ingredient in antifreeze. And other people died.)
A Scientist: Poisoned Pet Food
A physicianA physicianNews Story News Story (web site)(web site)
A man in Georgia passed himself off as a physician at a hospital emergency department for 6 weeks. Even his wife thought he was one. He wasn’t.
Physically fitPhysically fit: Baseball: Baseball
Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa
Bulked Up
The Academic ContextThe Academic Context
– CheatingCheating– PlagiarismPlagiarism– Falsifying InformationFalsifying Information– Unauthorized CollaborationUnauthorized Collaboration– Illicit/Inappropriate Research Illicit/Inappropriate Research
MethodsMethods
5 Primary Issues
PlagiarismPlagiarism• Improper CitationsImproper Citations
• Improper ParaphrasingImproper Paraphrasing
• Missing Citations & Bibliographical InfoMissing Citations & Bibliographical Info
• Missing Quotation MarksMissing Quotation Marks
• Stolen, purchased, borrowed, copied Stolen, purchased, borrowed, copied from other sourcesfrom other sources
Why would anyone NOT want to cite a Why would anyone NOT want to cite a source? source? It shows you did the work.It shows you did the work.
Falsifying InformationFalsifying Information
•Manufactured StatisticsManufactured Statistics
•Stretching the truth on Stretching the truth on experimental resultsexperimental results
•““Mystery” referencesMystery” references
Unauthorized CollaborationUnauthorized Collaboration
Using the work of others, or working Using the work of others, or working with others, without permission to do with others, without permission to do so in assignments, papers, essays.so in assignments, papers, essays.
But why re-invent the wheel?But why re-invent the wheel?
Illicit/Inappropriate Research Illicit/Inappropriate Research MethodsMethods
• Lying to research subjectsLying to research subjects
• Treating subjects as means to an Treating subjects as means to an end/disrespecting personsend/disrespecting persons
• Not making a distinction between Not making a distinction between “informed consent” and a ““informed consent” and a “consent consent formform””
• Checking off a list of requirements Checking off a list of requirements without notice of the reasonswithout notice of the reasons
Research Ethics and IRBResearch Ethics and IRB• Three Historical Examples of Immoral Three Historical Examples of Immoral
Research PracticesResearch Practices1.1. The Milgram Experiment and Obedience to The Milgram Experiment and Obedience to
Authority. Authority. “Compliance” at “Compliance” at UCBerkeleyUCBerkeley.. Mid-20Mid-20thth Century, United States. Century, United States.
2.2. Nazi Doctors and “Medical” Experiments. Nazi Doctors and “Medical” Experiments. Josef Mengele, Torture, and “Progress” – Josef Mengele, Torture, and “Progress” – Holocaust HistoryHolocaust History – World War II, Nazi – World War II, Nazi GermanyGermany
3.3. The Tuskegee Experiment. “Miss Evers’ The Tuskegee Experiment. “Miss Evers’ Boys” and Boys” and NPRNPR. 1930s-1970s, United States.. 1930s-1970s, United States.
These examples, and others like them, are These examples, and others like them, are why IRB is a NECESSITY.why IRB is a NECESSITY.
IRB: IRB: Institutional Review BoardInstitutional Review Board
IRB/TheoryIRB/Theory PrinciplePrinciple RuleRule
Beneficence/Utility – Beneficence/Utility – do not harmdo not harm
Utility, Utility, ConsequencesConsequences
HappinessHappiness
Respect for Persons/ Respect for Persons/ Deontology – do not Deontology – do not deceivedeceive
Reason, RespectReason, Respect DutyDuty
Justice/Justice/Contractarianism – do Contractarianism – do not treat unequallynot treat unequally
AgreementAgreement ObligationObligation
VirtueVirtue Community Community & Character& Character
IntegrityIntegrity
Perhaps this is the consequence of the combination of purposes.
IRB’s ImportanceIRB’s Importance• Risks to subjects minimized (beneficence)Risks to subjects minimized (beneficence)• Risks are reasonable v. results (beneficence)Risks are reasonable v. results (beneficence)• Selecting subjects is equitable (justice)Selecting subjects is equitable (justice)• Informed consent required (respect for Informed consent required (respect for
persons)persons)• Data collection monitored to ensure safety of Data collection monitored to ensure safety of
subjects (beneficence)subjects (beneficence)• Privacy & Confidentiality protected (respect & Privacy & Confidentiality protected (respect &
beneficence)beneficence)• Safeguards for vulnerable populations (respect Safeguards for vulnerable populations (respect
for persons)for persons)
Source: “History and Ethical Principles” from Source: “History and Ethical Principles” from http://www.citiprogram.orghttp://www.citiprogram.org
Information on IRBInformation on IRB
UCF: See UCF: See http://www.research.ucf.edu/Compliance/irb.htmlhttp://www.research.ucf.edu/Compliance/irb.html
U.S. Government: U.S. Government: http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidanchttp://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htme/45cfr46.htm
But Remember...But Remember...Simple compliance is not enough.Simple compliance is not enough.
Understanding, care, and respect come from you, Understanding, care, and respect come from you, not from:not from:
• mindlessly following rules and proceduresmindlessly following rules and procedures– Higher level, but radically contingentHigher level, but radically contingent
• 10Cs, Golden Rule, UCF Creed10Cs, Golden Rule, UCF Creed
• Or from simple fear of punishment and hope of Or from simple fear of punishment and hope of rewardreward– Low levelLow level
But they can and do come from:But they can and do come from:
• Character and Persons – Moral ExemplarsCharacter and Persons – Moral Exemplars– Highest level of honor and integrityHighest level of honor and integrity
