SCI 550Research Ethics

Intrinsic to the scientific method is the principle that scientists, whatever their discipline, are honest in their conduct of their research and presentation of their results. This course will encourage students enrolled in the course to think critically about what it means to be an ethical investigator. One may be in compliance without being an ethical investigator: being in compliance means following the rule, ethical research necessitates identifying the ethical imperatives underlying the rules. The essential ethical imperative behind the rules is that investigators strive to do their jobs in a way that will not cause unjustified injury to anyone. Throughout the course, students will be asked to consider the range of actions that make up responsible conduct for the ethical investigator as well as recognize the rules that researchers should follow.