THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING

Addressing Problems in Research Ethics

Below are problems submitted by visitors to the Center and student projects (problem situations followed by interviews with knowledgeable people on how best to address those problems). All have been edited slightly for clarity, and most names appearing within the scenarios have been changed.

The Infinite Thesis by Todd Riggs, 1992.

This project discusses issues about the relationship between students and the supervisors of their dissertations that are important for understanding subtler issues about the responsible conduct of research.

Cheating@MIT: Responsibilities for Reporting and Taking Disciplinary Action by Jennifer C. Han.

This project combines interviews and related institutional policy materials into a detailed discussion of how the use of "bibles" and other questionable study practices are handled at MIT.

Research Safety in Laboratories by Gwen Crevensten, May 1995.

In this scenario, a student going into a lab tries to understand why researchers don't follow uniform procedures when disposing of toxic chemicals.

Who Owns My Invention? A Look at University Researchers and Technology Transfer by Justin Rich, Phil 304 - Science and Engineering Ethics, Fall 2005

This project discusses issues about technology transfer and research

• The Infinite Thesis: Introduction

  How should a student approach a master's thesis with respect to advisor and student expectations? This paper looks at how a thesis at MIT can be drawn out due to miscommunication and hidden agendas.

• Cheating@MIT: Responsibilities for Reporting and Taking Disciplinary Action

  Scenario of a project which stemmed from a student's experience that the rule against collaboration on homework is often violated and the responsibility of whether disciplinary action should be taken or ignored.

• Research Safety in Laboratories

  A student's project about research safety in laboratories promted by her job as a new researcher in the laboratory where safety precautions were ignored.

• Who Owns My Invention? A Look at University Researchers and Technology Transfer

  Scenario that looks at internet search engines and the ethical questions raised about technological transfer and research.

National Academy of Engineering

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