Course Description
Through a series of presentations and case study discussions, students will explore ethical issues in research, including codes of ethics for professional organizations, the responsible conduct of research, and the development of personal professionalism and ethics.
Athena Title
Responsible Conduct Research
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A/S (A-F or S/U)
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students should have learned: 1. The nature of ethical systems underlying codes of ethics and conduct of professional societies 2. How their own value systems can impact research conduct 3. The key components of honesty and integrity in conducting research, including misconduct, plagiarism, and data falsification 4. The issues surrounding whistleblowing and treatment of whistleblowers 5. Policies and procedures on data management and ownership 6. How to determine credit, responsibility, and criteria for authorship of manuscripts 7. The nature of peer review of manuscripts and grants, including issues of response, competence, and confidentiality 8. The definition and management of conflicts of interest 9. An overview of faculty/graduate student interactions, their development and enhancement, and how to manage problems 10. What constitutes appropriate consulting arrangements 11. The nature of intellectual property and its commercialization 12. Appropriate design and implementation of research with animals and humans 13. How to nurture personal philosophies and ethics
Topical Outline
1. Basis for ethics and value systems 2.Defining professionalism, codes of ethics from professional societies 3. Effects of personal value systems on research topics and data interpretation 4.Honesty and integrity in conducting research 5.Honesty and integrity in data management 6.Authorship of manuscripts 7.Peer review of manuscripts and grants 8.Faculty/graduate student interactions 9.Plagiarism 10.Conflicts of interest and commitment 11.Consultancies/intellectual property issues 12.Issues in animal and human research 13.Defining, nurturing, and developing personal professionalism and ethics
Syllabus