Science and University Politics

After Reading This Chapter, You Will: Understand how political factors impact modern science Appreciate in what ways the replication crisis endangers the values of science Know how publication pressure and perverse incentives challenge scientific practices See why teaching ethics requires reactive, proactive, and reflexive education

Plagiarism

After Reading This Chapter, You Will: Know precisely what plagiarism is Understand why plagiarism is an ethical issue Be able to identify different forms of plagiarism Develop the capacity to distinguish legitimate from fraudulent references

Introduction

Let’s start with you. The audience for this work is you, a student in the social sciences. Many of the problems discussed in this book will probably be new to you, perhaps not entirely, but still. Yet, right from the beginning of your studies, you have been confronted with certain demands, regulations, and procedures, all driven by certain ethical considerations that you’re supposed to be aware of and adopt. You’re supposed to be trustworthy, reliable, honest, impartial, and objective if you want to call yourself a researcher. Ah yes, but how? It seems you’ve got some catching up to do.

Science

After Reading This Chapter, You Will: Develop an awareness of what social science is about Better understand the role of students within universities Recognize the function of reflexivity in the process of knowledge acquisition Acknowledge science’s institutional imperatives

Research Ethics Step by Step

After Reading This Chapter, You Will: Have a general knowledge of Institutional Review Board (IRB) procedures Have the capacity to anticipate the basic ethical pitfalls in research designs Know how to counter common ethical objections Be able to design an informed consent form

Falsifying

After Reading This Chapter, You Will: Know exactly what falsifying is Be able to distinguish falsification from other forms of fraud Understand how falsifying impacts the social sciences Develop strategies to address falsification

Confidentiality

After Reading This Chapter, You Will: Know what confidentiality entails and why it is important in research Become familiar with techniques of securing confidentiality Understand the difference between anonymity and confidentiality Be able to identify breaches of confidentiality

Conflicts of Interest

After Reading This Chapter, You Will: Have an understanding of how modern scientific research is influenced by economic interests Be able to identify conflicts of interest and conflicts of values Be capable of recognizing competing interests Understand conflicts of ownership Know how various conflicts are resolved

Perspectives

After Reading This Chapter, You Will: Better comprehend what research ethics is about Understand why research ethics is an integral part of doing research in the social sciences Be able to distinguish between research ethics and professional ethics Develop a general knowledge of the three most important theories of ethics

Fabrication and Cheating

After Reading This Chapter, You Will: Know what fabrication is Be able to distinguish between fabrication and other forms of fraud Understand how fabrication impacts the social sciences Comprehend how institutions respond to cheating and fabrication