Lesson 3: Ethics in Research

• Ethics


  norms for conduct that distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable behavior
• Ethics in Research

  • Honesty
  • Objectivity
  • Integrity
  • Carefulness
  • Openness
  • Intellectual Property
  • Confidentiality
  • Responsible Publication
  • Responsible Mentoring
  • Respect for Colleagues
  • Social Responsibility
  • Non-Discrimination
  • Competence
  • Legality
  • Animal Care
  • Human Subjects Protection
• Honesty


  • Strive for honesty in all scientific communications
  • Honestly report data, results, methods, and procedures, and publication status
  • Do not fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent data
  • Do not deceive colleagues, research sponsors, or the public
• Objectivity


  • Strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data analysis, data interpretation, peer review, personnel decisions, grant writing, expert testimony, and other aspects of research where objectivity is expected or required
  • Avoid or minimize bias or self-deception, disclose personal or financial interests that may affect research
• Integrity

  Keep your promises and agreements; act with sincerity; strive for consistency of thought and action
• Carefulness


  • Avoid careless errors and negligence; carefully and critically examine your own work and the work of your peers
  • Keep good records of research activities , such as data collection, research design, and correspondence with agencies or journals
• Openness


  • Share data, results, ideas, tools, resources
  • Be open to criticism and new ideas
• Intellectual Property


  • Honor patents, copyrights, and other forms of intellectual property
  • Do not use unpublished data, methods, or results without permission
  • Give proper acknowledgement or credit for all contributions to research
  • Never plagiarize
• Confidentiality


  Protect confidential communications, such as papers or grants submitted for publication, personnel records, trade or military secrets, and patient records
• Responsible Publication


  • Publish in order to advance research and scholarship, not to advance just your own career
  • Avoid wasteful and duplicative publication
• Responsible Mentoring 


  • Help to educate, mentor, and advise students
  • Promote their welfare and allow them to make their own decisions
• Respect for Colleagues


  Respect your colleagues and treat them fairly
• Social Responsibility


  Strive to promote social good and prevent or mitigate social harms through research, public education, and advocacy
• Non-Discrimination


  Avoid discrimination against colleagues or students on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or other factors not related to scientific competence and integrity
• Competence


  Maintain and improve your own professional competence and expertise through lifelong education and learning; take steps to promote competence in science as a whole
• Legality


  Know and obey relevant laws and institutional and governmental policies
• Animal Care


  • Show proper respect and care for animals when using them in research
  • Do not conduct unnecessary or poorly designed animal experiments
• Human Subjects Protection


  When conducting research on human subjects, minimize harms and risks and maximize benefits; respect human dignity, privacy, and autonomy; take special precautions with vulnerable populations; and strive to distribute the benefits and burdens of research fairly