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."
Cite this page: "Learning Research Ethics: Methods and Objectives" Online Ethics Center for Engineering 9/11/2006 2:41:23 PM National Academy of Engineering Accessed: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 <www.onlineethics.org/CMS/research/modindex/modintro/resplearn.aspx>


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