Research Ethics

Tom Powers
Delaware Biotechnology Institute
&
Department of Philosophy
University of Delaware

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

What is the focus of research ethics?

Plagiarism
Fabrication & falsification of data
Conflicts of Interest
Authorship
Experimental subjects

What contributes to ethical problems in

research?

Garden-variety vices: dishonesty,

envy, exploitation, lack of
collegiality, self-promotion, sloth,
arrogance, etc., etc.

Lets start by considering:

Case 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?

Some specialized principles of research ethics may help.

Philosophical Foundations of Scientific Ethics
By David Resnik http://www.physics.emich.edu/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.

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 Shak Ketefian from Association of

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.

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

Finally, consider some professional ethics

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

Other internet resources:

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

Contact me!
tpowers@udel.edu