August 2007, (c) 2007 1 Academic and Research Ethics: Self, Subject, and Society Dr. Nancy A. Stanlick Dr. Nancy A. Stanlick Department of Philosophy Department.

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Academic and Academic and Research Ethics:Research Ethics:

Self, Subject, and SocietySelf, Subject, and Society

Dr. Nancy A. StanlickDr. Nancy A. Stanlick

Department of Department of PhilosophyPhilosophy

[email protected]@mail.ucf.edu

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PART ONEPART ONE

TheThe

CheatingCheating

CultureCulture

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The “Cheating Culture”The “Cheating Culture”• How does contemporary society How does contemporary society

exemplify a culture of cheating?exemplify a culture of cheating?

Pet food recall

Baseball

Journalism

Business

And the list goes on….

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Cheating the System and Killing Cats and Dogs –

and Pigs and Chickens. And Who or What Else??

Image: www.zeenews.com

Adapted From The New York Times, “Filler in Animal Feed is Open Secret in China,” 4/30/ 2007

In Zhangqui, China, a chemical made from coal is “routinely added to animal feed as a fake protein.” According to the story, animal feed producers have “for years” “secretly supplemented their feed with … melamine, a cheap additive that looks like protein in tests, even though it does not provide any nutritional benefits…”

“…Ji Denghui, general manager of the Fujian Sanming Dinghui Chemical Company, which sells melamine” said “I don’t know if there’s a regulation on it. Probably not. No law or regulation says ‘don’t do it,’ so everyone’s doing it. The laws in China are like that, aren’t they? If there’s no accident, there won’t be any regulation.”

“The link to China has set off concerns among critics of the (FDA) that ingredients in pet food as well as human food, which are increasingly coming from abroad, are not being adequately screened.”

“The Chinese news media – which is strictly censored – has not reported much about the country’s ties to the pet food recall in the (U.S.). And few in agriculture here do not see any harm in using melamine in small does; they simply see it as cheating a little on protein, not harming animals or pets.”

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The Cheating Culture in Science – The Cheating Culture in Science – www.cheatingculture.com www.cheatingculture.com

Has scientific research shifted from the pursuit of knowledge into a tool for corporate profit? New studies show Has scientific research shifted from the pursuit of knowledge into a tool for corporate profit? New studies show that as private dollars get mixed into research practices, more results are falsified. What can be done in order that as private dollars get mixed into research practices, more results are falsified. What can be done in order to make scientific research the trusted institution that it once was?to make scientific research the trusted institution that it once was?

• Conflict of InterestConflict of Interest• McDonald's sponsoring a study on the effects of soft drinks and junk food? Dow Industries promoting research McDonald's sponsoring a study on the effects of soft drinks and junk food? Dow Industries promoting research

on government regulation of chemical companies? Seems ridiculous, but cash-starved scientific institutions on government regulation of chemical companies? Seems ridiculous, but cash-starved scientific institutions are climbing into bed with the companies their research would normally condemn, and sometimes are even are climbing into bed with the companies their research would normally condemn, and sometimes are even changing their findings. After all, you wouldn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth...changing their findings. After all, you wouldn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth...

  • Key IssuesKey Issues• Even Even ReasonReason magazine, the bastion of free market enterprise, agrees that when scientific research is coupled magazine, the bastion of free market enterprise, agrees that when scientific research is coupled

with corporate agendas, the results can be skewed against the public. with corporate agendas, the results can be skewed against the public. • Conflicted Science: how to ensure integrity in scienceConflicted Science: how to ensure integrity in science • A statistical analysis of the frequency of scientific fraudA statistical analysis of the frequency of scientific fraud  • In order to swing public debate over the danger of chemicals, the pollution of the oil industries, and the In order to swing public debate over the danger of chemicals, the pollution of the oil industries, and the

health effects of fatty foods, companies have created their own research non-profits. health effects of fatty foods, companies have created their own research non-profits. • Corporate Manipulation of Scientific EvidenceCorporate Manipulation of Scientific Evidence • Corporate money co-opts non-profit groups, says reportCorporate money co-opts non-profit groups, says report•   • To what extent should universities be beholden to corporate interests? New evidence shows that research To what extent should universities be beholden to corporate interests? New evidence shows that research

has been altered in order to further profit. has been altered in order to further profit. • Statement on Corporate Funding of Academic ResearchStatement on Corporate Funding of Academic Research • Transcript: Corporate U.Transcript: Corporate U. • NaderNader denounces corporate funding for research denounces corporate funding for research • Corporate Cash and Campus LabsCorporate Cash and Campus Labs•     • Recent Fraud Cases and AllegationsRecent Fraud Cases and Allegations • New scientific fraud cases emerge regularly in the news. But sorting out the facts can be difficult amid New scientific fraud cases emerge regularly in the news. But sorting out the facts can be difficult amid

charges and denials. charges and denials. • Bell Labs fires star researcher for fraudBell Labs fires star researcher for fraud • Bell Labs press release on case Bell Labs press release on case • Bell Labs researcher's work is retracted by journals, but remains on web Bell Labs researcher's work is retracted by journals, but remains on web • Fraud and deceptions alleged at MonsantoFraud and deceptions alleged at Monsanto

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PART TWOPART TWO

Uses and Abuses ofUses and Abuses of

Theories, Facts, Theories, Facts, Rules, and Rules, and PrinciplesPrinciples

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The Uses and Abuses

of

Theories, Facts, Rules, and Principles

10 Cs

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Major Ethical TheoriesMajor Ethical Theories

TheoryTheory PrinciplePrinciple RuleRule

Explanation, Explanation, ConceptualConceptual

Reason, GeneralReason, General CommanCommand, d, SpecificSpecific

UtilitarianismUtilitarianism

DeontologyDeontology

VirtueVirtue

ContractarianisContractarianismm

UtilityUtility

Duty, RespectDuty, Respect

C, C, & CC, C, & C

Natural Natural Law/AgreementLaw/Agreement

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Facts/Is Vs. OughtFacts/Is Vs. Ought

• We are often compared to other We are often compared to other animals in their wild habitats, either to animals in their wild habitats, either to show that we are, or are not, like show that we are, or are not, like them. Which of these is done them. Which of these is done depends on the purpose of the person depends on the purpose of the person or group trying to make a point.or group trying to make a point.

• But ethics isn’t about what is, it is But ethics isn’t about what is, it is about what ought to be.about what ought to be.

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Some other kinds of animals Some other kinds of animals also cheat and deceivealso cheat and deceive

• Carl Zimmer writes of the bird shrikes thatCarl Zimmer writes of the bird shrikes that– ““..regularly use alarm calls to warn one ..regularly use alarm calls to warn one

another of predators. But sometimes the birds another of predators. But sometimes the birds will use false alarm calls to scare other will use false alarm calls to scare other shrikes away from food.” shrikes away from food.”

– Hence, the deceptive shrike has a more Hence, the deceptive shrike has a more successful nest as well as a better chance for successful nest as well as a better chance for survival than the shrikes that are tricked by survival than the shrikes that are tricked by the call.the call.

• Zimmer also writes of the crustacean Zimmer also writes of the crustacean stomatopod. stomatopod.

– The males make burrows and try to attract The males make burrows and try to attract mates. Their burrows are threatened by other mates. Their burrows are threatened by other males and they can either move or keep their males and they can either move or keep their ground. During molting, stomatopods ground. During molting, stomatopods sometimes bluff and threaten intruders by sometimes bluff and threaten intruders by showing their large appendages although showing their large appendages although their bodies are very vulnerable at the time. their bodies are very vulnerable at the time.

– Thus, the deceptive male saves energy by Thus, the deceptive male saves energy by keeping his already-made burrow. keeping his already-made burrow. This PowerPoint page courtesy of Christine Techavanich, from PHI

3670 (Ethical Theory), Summer C Term, 2007. Used by permission.

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PART THREEPART THREE

Academic and Academic and ResearchResearch

EthicsEthics

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What Do You Think??What Do You Think??• What are the most prevalent problems What are the most prevalent problems

of which you are aware with respect to of which you are aware with respect to ethics in an academic setting in your ethics in an academic setting in your discipline?discipline?– Bioengineering?Bioengineering?– Pharmaceuticals?Pharmaceuticals?– Research Subject Abuses?Research Subject Abuses?– Ignorance about Science?Ignorance about Science?

ACADEMIC ETHICS

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Creationism and Evolution: A Creationism and Evolution: A Problem in TeachingProblem in Teaching

• Examples, Objections, and RepliesExamples, Objections, and Replies– ““But Creationism But Creationism is is science”science”

•Methods, Definitions, Scope of SubjectsMethods, Definitions, Scope of Subjects– ““All theories should be covered”All theories should be covered”

•Do they all Do they all deservedeserve to be covered? to be covered?

•Can they be?Can they be?– An interesting video on Evolution and ID: see An interesting video on Evolution and ID: see

http://www.telicthoughts.com/media/dembski-http://www.telicthoughts.com/media/dembski-ruse-1.wmv ruse-1.wmv

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Audio File on Ethical Issues in Stem Audio File on Ethical Issues in Stem Cell ResearchCell Research

• See See http://131.247.45.229/WUSF-FM/Programs/Florida_Mhttp://131.247.45.229/WUSF-FM/Programs/Florida_M

atters_pgs/Florida_Matters_042707_Stem_Cell.cfmatters_pgs/Florida_Matters_042707_Stem_Cell.cfm

Ethics Updates Site on Bioethics, Cloning, and Reproductive Technologies• See http://ethics.sandiego.edu/Applied/Bioethics/index.a

sp

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Cheating and PlagiarismCheating and Plagiarism

• It is not always easy to deal with the It is not always easy to deal with the dynamics of cases and this affects dynamics of cases and this affects decisions, consequences, and decisions, consequences, and evaluations.evaluations.

• Consider the following video:Consider the following video:

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Video from YouTubeVideo from YouTube

• See the clip from the soap, See the clip from the soap, All My All My Children at Children at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irBj1-dulcUBj1-dulcU

• If these were UCF students, would If these were UCF students, would they be guilty of academic they be guilty of academic dishonesty? What should be done?dishonesty? What should be done?

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UCF’s Academic Ethics UCF’s Academic Ethics StandardsStandards

• The UCF CreedThe UCF Creed– Do you know what it is?Do you know what it is?– http://www.admissions.sdes.ucf.edu/abohttp://www.admissions.sdes.ucf.edu/abo

ut.asp?FirstSub=creedut.asp?FirstSub=creed

• The UCF Golden RuleThe UCF Golden Rule– Have you seen it before?Have you seen it before?– http://www.goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/2e_http://www.goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/2e_

Rules.htmlRules.html

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PART FOURPART FOUR

ResearchResearchEthicsEthicsandandIRBIRB

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• What is the relationship of research What is the relationship of research ethics to academic ethics, more ethics to academic ethics, more broadly construed?broadly construed?

• What are YOUR responsibilities in the What are YOUR responsibilities in the realm of academic, scientific, and realm of academic, scientific, and professional research involving professional research involving human (and non-human) subjects?human (and non-human) subjects?

• Why are research ethics important?Why are research ethics important?

Research Ethics

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Three Historical Examples of Three Historical Examples of Questionable Research Questionable Research

PracticesPractices• The Milgram Experiment and Obedience to The Milgram Experiment and Obedience to

Authority -- See Authority -- See http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6110809571753386112&q=Milgram+Experiment&total=22http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6110809571753386112&q=Milgram+Experiment&total=22&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

• Nazi Doctors – Grisly “medical” experiments Nazi Doctors – Grisly “medical” experiments on concentration camp prisonerson concentration camp prisoners

• The Tuskeegee Experiment – lying to The Tuskeegee Experiment – lying to African American men about treatment for African American men about treatment for syphilis. They were not treated, and the syphilis. They were not treated, and the experiment was not stopped even AFTER experiment was not stopped even AFTER effective treatment had been developed effective treatment had been developed and they could have received proper care.and they could have received proper care.

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IRB – Institutional Review IRB – Institutional Review BoardBoard

• Principles Guiding Appropriate Principles Guiding Appropriate ResearchResearch– Respect for PersonsRespect for Persons– BeneficenceBeneficence– JusticeJustice

• Do you remember the moral Do you remember the moral theories? They are embedded in the theories? They are embedded in the derivation of these principles.derivation of these principles.

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Summary of Importance of IRBSummary of Importance of IRB

• Risks to subjects are minimized [Beneficence]Risks to subjects are minimized [Beneficence]• Risks are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits Risks are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits

[Beneficence][Beneficence]• Selection of subjects is equitable [Justice] . Selection of subjects is equitable [Justice] . • Informed consent is sought from each subject [Respect for Informed consent is sought from each subject [Respect for

Persons]. Persons]. • Informed consent is appropriately documented [Respect for Informed consent is appropriately documented [Respect for

Persons] . Persons] . • And when appropriate:And when appropriate:• Data collection is monitored to ensure subject safety Data collection is monitored to ensure subject safety

[Beneficence] . [Beneficence] . • Privacy and confidentiality of subjects is protected [Respect Privacy and confidentiality of subjects is protected [Respect

for Persons & Beneficence] . for Persons & Beneficence] . • Additional safeguards are included for vulnerable populations Additional safeguards are included for vulnerable populations

[Respect for Persons].[Respect for Persons].•

• Source: “History and Ethical Principles” from Source: “History and Ethical Principles” from http://www.citiprogram.orghttp://www.citiprogram.org