Chapter 5:  Ethical Issues in Research and Scholarship

I. Seven Areas of Scientific Dishonesty

1.  Plagiarism – means using the ideas, writings, or drawings of others as your own. 

2.  Fabrication and Falsification – making up or altering research. 

a. Copying cited findings from reviews. 

b. Interpreting others work

c. Read original work and do not rely on other’s interpretations.

3. Nonpublication of Data – some data are not included because they do not support the expected outcome

4. Faulty data gathering procedures

a. Using data from participants who are not meeting the requirements of the research

b. Malfunctioning equipment

c. Inappropriate treatment of participants

d. Recording data incorrectly

5. Poor data storage and retention – original data must be retained and not altered.

6. Misleading authorship

7. Unacceptable Publication Practices

a. Second authorship

b. Dual publication

II. Skip:

1. Ethical Issues Regarding Copyright

2. Model for Considering Scientific Misconduct

3. Working With Faculty

III. Protecting Human Participants

1. The researcher must be concerned about any circumstances in the research setting or activity that could harm the participants.

2. Harm should be interpreted to mean to frighten, embarrass, or negatively affect the participants.

3. A balance must be reached between the degree of risk, the participant’s rights, and the potential value of the research.

IV. Research Participants Should Expect

1. The right to privacy or nonparticipation

2. The right to remain anonymous

3. The right to confidentiality

4. The right to expect experimenter responsibility

V. Informed Consent

1. The researcher is required to protect the rights and well-being of participants in his/her study.

2. Sample in Appendix D; D.1, D.2, D.3, D.4

VI. Elements of Informed Consent

1. A fair explanation of the procedures to be followed, including an identification of those that are experimental

2. A description of the attendant discomforts and risks.

3. A description of the benefits to be expected.

4. A disclosure of appropriate alternative procedures that would be advantageous for the participant

5. An offer to answer any inquiries concerning the procedures.

6. An instruction that the participant is free to withdraw consent and to discontinue participation in the project or activity at any time.

7. An exculpatory language through which the participant is made to waive, or appear to waive, any legal right or to release the institution or its agents from liability or negligence. 

8. There should be institutional guidelines for human participants and for informed consent, and the research must follow them.

VII.  Protecting Animal Subjects

1. Animal studies may have more stringent criteria for approval than studies with humans.

2. Researcher must show the review board that the research adds to the significant knowledge in the field and is not just a replication

VIII.  Justifying Animal Research

A. Matt (1993) says that animal research is justified if:

1. Drug testing

2. Animal models of disease; diabetes, parkinson’s disease, auto-immune dysfunction, aging, iron deficiency, etc.

3. Basic Research – focus at a level of definition not possible with human models.

4. Education UGrad and Grad Students in laboratories and lectures, with experience and information gained from the use of animal models

5. Development of surgical techniques, used extensively in the training of medical students and the testing of new surgical devices and procedures.