Learning Research Ethics: Methods and Objectives

Methods & Objectives

Scenario Discussion:

practice in designing good responses. Objective: to become more proficient at addressing ethical problems, especially those in which there are potentially competing considerations.

Interview with Advisor:

experience in discussing practices. Objective: to make issues discussible while teaching both ethical and scientific norms for research.

Evening Meetings:

to report on interviews and to discuss both standards and comparison of faculty responses. Objective: to increase student understanding of standards and ability to select appropriate advisor.

Panel Discussion:

open discussion of ethical standards and variation in faculty practices; also draws out faculty experience with these issues. Objective: to build understanding and trust in the community and practical wisdom in students.

General Character of Content

• Ethical norms and practices in science and in particular fields, plus expectations and conventions about the implementation of those norms.
• Resources for handling difficult problems and "cans of worms."

Attitude

• Learned indirectly from the time and attention that faculty give to the activity and from increased confidence that one can "do the right thing."