Doing the Right Thing

A Primer on Research Ethics

What do these have in common?

Pencillin Heliocentrism The transistor Brown v Board of Education The Gospel of Mary Magdala

When Scholars’ Ethics Falter…

Physicist falsifies ‘facts’ (Sept 02)

Jan Hendrik Schon

Poet lies by degree (Oct 02)

Quincy Troupe

Counting dead sheep (May 05)

Doris Kearns Goodwin

Copycat (Feb 02)

J. Michael Bailey

He said,she said(Aug 03)

Professor plagiarizes passages in ethics book (Jan 05)

William W. Meissner

And then there’s…

Why cut ethical corners? Malicious evil Carelessness Desperation Laziness or “efficiency” Competition Zeal Ignorance Norms (real or perceived) Ideology

Values

McCabe survey (‘03)

• 38% of students plagiarized in past year• Nearly 50% did not consider this cheating

Schoenthaler survey, Peterson case (‘04)• Nine of 65 criminal-justice students falsified data

Starting early….Josephson Institute of Ethics survey (‘02)• 74% cheated on exam• 83% lied to teachers

How can we do the right thing?

What are “ethics”? How can we make ethical

decisions? Role of individual Role of collectivities

Morality and Ethics

Morality: “first-order” beliefs about good and evil and associated practices

Ethics: “second-order,” explicit reflections on moral beliefs and practices

Depths of Depravity

Highest Ethical Plane

Depths of Depravity

Highest Ethical Plane

“Unless our ethics students learn to examine themselves and what they really value, their command of ethical theories and their ability to think about ethics from diverse perspectives are not likely to bring them any closer to being willing and able to do the right thing.”

-- Marino (2004)

Clarify values and duties Identify relevant facts and stakeholders Identify possible actions & implications Consult ethical resources Make a decision

Ethical Decision Making

Ethical Decision Making

Clarify values and duties Identify relevant facts and

stakeholders Identify possible actions &

implications Consult ethical resources Make a decision

You are not alone!

Ethical Dimensions of Research

Constitutive Values Conceive, design, execute,

interpret Disseminate results

Research Misconduct (ORI)

Falsification

Fabrication Plagiarism Other Practices that seriously deviate from those commonly

accepted in the research community

“Other Practices…”

Misrepresentation of credentials or role

Failure to fulfill obligations to colleagues

Failure to comply with regulations

Institutional Animal Care &

Use Committee (IACUC)

The animal research I can't defend Roborats give serious scientists the

chance to draw an ethical line

Giant rats trained to sniff out land mines

Roborat Could Help Find Earthquake Victims

Mission

Regulatory: Federal, state and local regulations;

funding College policy

Ethical: Facilitate humane, safe work with

nonhuman vertebrate animals Scientific/education justification The Three “R”s: Replace, refine, reduce

Composition At least five members, including:

Chair Laboratory animal veterinarian Scientist Member with advanced ethics

training One unaffiliated member Nonscientist

Human Subjects Research Committee

(HSRC)

Funding Suspended Government Halts Funds to Johns Hopkins following Research Death (June 01) 

Ellen Roche

J. Michael Bailey

He said,she said(Aug 03)

Mission

Regulatory: Federal policy, tied to funding College policy on all research with

humans Ethical:

Safeguard rights and welfare of participants

Scientific/educational justification

Composition Four faculty members One unaffiliated member

Occidental College Biosafety Committee

(OCBC)

Mission Regulatory:

Enforce National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines on proper use of pathogenic organisms and recombinant DNA (rDNA)

Ethical: Protect individuals from potentially

dangerous pathogenic organisms and rDNA

Composition

At least five members, including: Chair Plant Expert Animal Expert Two unaffiliated members

Ethical Dimensions of Research

Constitutive Values Conceive, design, execute, interpret Disseminate, apply results

Contextual Values What questions matter? How and to whom? Who gets to decide and ask?

The Case of Disenfranchised Groups

THE TROUBLING LEGACY OF THE TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY

Minorities missing out on AIDS trialsStudy: Blacks, Hispanics lack access to experimental drugs MSNBC NEWS SERVICES May 1 — Minorities account for nearly half of allAmericans infected with HIV but are less likelythan whites to be included in research trials andhave access to experimental medication thatcould prolong their lives, a new study shows.

How Students Can Do The Right Thing

Participate only in IRB-approved work

Consider moral aspects of work Dangers, pitfalls Highest aspirations

Be an active decision maker