On Being a Scientist:
Responsible Conduct
of Research
Elsa G. Nadler
Director, Grants Development
419.383.6967
Elsa.nadler@utoledo.edu
Why Worry about Ethics?
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The science itself
Other scientists
The public
The future
Ourselves
Federal Definition
Scientific misconduct or misconduct in research –
Research misconduct is defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in
proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research
results.
Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them.
Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or
processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is
not accurately represented in the research record.
Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes,
results, or words without giving appropriate credit.
Research misconduct does not include honest error or honest difference of
opinion.
What Is Research Integrity?
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Misconduct
Mentors and Trainees
Peer Review
Publication
Collaborations
Record Keeping
Conflict of Interest
Data Ownership
Intellectual Property
Use of Animals
Use of Humans
Genetic Technology (new)
Who Is Involved?
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You as students
Your colleagues
Your instructors
Professional societies
Grant-making organizations (and the
federal government)
On Being a Scientist (INDI 602/802)
Fall Semester 2009
Tuesdays 9:00-10:30 AM
Course Director:
Dr. Randy Ruch
Department of Biochemistry & Cancer Biology
Office: BHSB 410
Phone: 419-383-4408
E-mail: randall.ruch@utoledo.edu
DATE
8/25/09
9/1/09
9/8/09
9/15/09
9/22/09
9/29/09
10/6/09
10/13/09
10/20/09
10/27/09
11/3/09
11/10/09
TOPIC
History of Science and Scientific Ethics
Research Ethics
Research Ethics
Conflict of Interest
Research Funding
Use of Human Subjects in Research: IRB
NO CLASS
Intellectual Property
Biohazard and Biosafety Policies
Preparation of a Professional CV
Use of Animals in Research: IACUC
Mentoring/Trainee Relationships & Case Studies
*HEB = Health Education Building
INSTRUCTOR
Edinger
Edinger
Nadler
Devries
Ratnam
Pinkston, Wisniewski
ROOM*
HEB 227
HEB 227
HEB 227
HEB 227
HEB 227
HEB 227
Fox
Valigosky
Tietz
Chiaia
Ruch
HEB
HEB
HEB
HEB
HEB
227
227
227
227
227
Recommended Reading
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Cantor's Dilemma: A Novel
by Carl Djerassi (The Penguin Group,
New York, NY: 1991)
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This short novel covers RCR topics such as
publishing, collaborations, laboratory
procedures, data keeping and ownership,
mentoring, and peer review from the
perspectives of the humanities (where
applicable) as well as the sciences.
Online Resources
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The following slides provide some of
the many online sources of information.
A Google search of "research ethics" or
"research misconduct" or "responsible
conduct of research" will yield many
more.
Office of Research Integrity
http://ori.dhhs.gov/education/
ORI supports several programs designed to promote education and
training in the responsible conduct of research (RCR) that covers the
following nine instructional areas:
Data Acquisition, Management, Sharing and Ownership
Conflict of Interest and Commitment
Human Subjects
Animal Welfare
Research Misconduct
Publication Practices and Responsible Authorship
Mentor / Trainee Responsibilities
Peer Review
Collaborative Science
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American Psychological Association
http://www.apa.org/science/rcr/homepage.html
American Psychological Association
http://www.apa.org/science/rcr/homepage.html
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Responsible conduct of research (RCR) includes most of the professional activities that are part and parcel
of a research career and that are coming under increasing regulatory scrutiny. As defined by federal
agencies, RCR encompasses the following nine areas: research misconduct, human participants, research
involving animals, data acquisition, management, sharing, and ownership, mentor/trainee responsibilities,
publication practices and responsible authorship, peer review, collaborative science, conflicts of interests
and commitments.
Under the aegis of the new PSY21 initiative the APA Science Directorate is undertaking a number of new
activities and projects in the area of RCR. Activities include RCR workshops and development of training
and informational materials. The purview of RCR will also be broaden to include responsible translation of
research results into a form that is understandable and usable by the general public and policy makers.
APA has also established an ad hoc committee whose charge is to promote shared knowledge, beliefs, and
attitudes for ethical and responsible conduct of research among investigators and students in the
psychological sciences with the goal of maximizing scientific rigor and productivity within the research
community.
Furthermore, since 1925, the APA Committee on Animal Research Ethics (CARE) has been devoted to
safeguarding and promoting ethical conduct in research with animals, other than humans.
Council of Graduate Schools
http://www.cgsnet.org/Default.aspx?tabid=123
Current Initiatives
Supported by the Office of Research Integrity (ORI), CGS has launched the Project for Scholarly Integrity to
develop institutional models for expanding and embedding ethics and RCR education projects. Information
about the project can be found at the following website:
http://www.scholarlyintegrity.org
The objectives of this new CGS initiative are: to expand the cadre of graduate deans who will serve as leaders
in fostering a climate of research integrity in graduate education; to generate information about what
works best in promoting a comprehensive institutional approach to RCR education; to document the results
of the funded projects online and in a best practice monograph series; and to promote community-wide
activity building on this initiative through publications, frequent meetings, the CGS scholarly integrity
Website, and interactive media.
Background and Earlier Initiatives
The Council of Graduate Schools is committed to advancing the scope and quality of graduate education in the
ethical and responsible conduct of research. Early initiatives on this topic stemmed from a growing
recognition that students, postdoctoral fellows, technicians, and even faculty, must be better informed
about the norms of science and scholarship, the ethical responsibilities of research, and the policies and
regulations that govern research in the U.S. Many situations in which ethical issues arise are complex,
demanding distinct skills for identifying and assessing problems and solutions.
To advance the development of such skills, CGS began to create model programs that integrate research ethics
and scholarly integrity into the structure and the climate of the entire graduate school research experience.
CGS initiatives have been made possible with funding from the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) and the
National Science Foundation (NSF). The initial CGS project funded by ORI supported the generation and
testing of strategic interventions and assessment strategies in the behavioral and biomedical fields at ten
universities. The initiative funded by NSF made it possible to support and assess projects at eight
institutions focusing on programs in science and engineering that cross disciplinary boundaries.
National Institutes of Health
http://bioethics.od.nih.gov/
Welcome to the NIH's Bioethics Resources on the
Web! The Internet is replete with resources available
to those with an interest in bioethics including
education, research involving human participants and
animals, medical and health care ethics, and the
implications of applied genetics and biotechnology.
This website contains a broad collage of annotated
web links, and while this list is comprehensive, it is
not totally inclusive. The listed resources provide
background information and various positions on
issues in bioethics. Where possible, we have linked
directly to those positions.
The National Academies
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/obas/
The focus of this study is to develop an updated, third edition of COSEPUP’s On
Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct in Research. On Being a Scientist
provides guidance to students and researchers and describes the ethical
foundations and standards of scientific practices and some of the personal and
professional issues that researchers encounter in their work.
Contact Information:
Keck Center of the National Academies
500 Fifth Street, NW, K549
Washington, DC 20001
obas@nas.edu
Committee Meetings
The funding for this study has been finalized. The OBAS committee roster. The projected
release date for the report is June 30, 2008.
Join our Listserv
Receive news and announcements about the project. Click here to join.
Related Reports
On Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct in Research (1995). Second Edition.
Online Ethics Center
http://www.onlineethics.org/
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On Education
Ideas, teaching advice, research, and other pedagogical information about incorporating
ethics into the engineering classroom at every level.
Safety and the Environment
Essays and articles, cases, guidelines, and reference materials related to environmental
issues (including sustainability) and safety concerns.
Professional Practice
An extensive section with a large number of essays and articles, as well as sets of cases,
discussions, and ethical guidelines bearing on the various professional responsibilities of
engineers.
Employment and Legal Issues
Cases, essays, and reference materials that address ethical issues for employees,
managers, and organizations. There are also resources for considering the intersection of
ethics and the law.
Responsible Research
This section of the OEC contains cases, discussions, guidelines, and regulations bearing on
the responsible conduct of research, including both issues of research integrity and issues
of the treatment of the research subject.
Computers and New Technology
Material addressing the specific ethical issues arising from computers, computer/software
engineering, and the Internet, as well as other emerging technologies, such as
nanotechnology. The section includes cases, essays, ethical guidelines, and web resources.
Columbia University
http://www.columbia.edu/ccnmtl/projects/rcr/index.html
Promoting RCR education as a central responsibility for any
institution involved in research.
COURSE 1: Conflicts of Interest
COURSE 2: Mentoring
COURSE 3: Responsible Authorship and Peer Review
COURSE 4: Research Misconduct
COURSE 5: Collaborative Science
COURSE 6: Data Acquisition and Management
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University of Pittsburgh
http://www.pitt.edu/~provost/ethresearch.html