A Lie or Just "a Way of Speaking?" Added08/17/2006 Updated03/07/2016 A scenario meant to stimulate discussion about the phrasing of key pieces of information. Author(s) Caroline Whitbeck Contributor(s) Caroline Whitbeck Year 2000 Read More
A pHish Tale Added04/20/2006 Updated10/18/2016 This case highlights potential dilemmas encountered by postdoctoral fellows in a research setting. Should a scientist release incomplete data to an environmental group so they may work to prevent further environmental damage, or hope for the best during the five-year EPA funded project that will provide conclusive data? It also explores scientists social responsibilities and public perception of scientific data. Contributor(s) Brian Schrag Authoring Institution Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE) Year 2001 Read More
A Single Author Paper Added04/10/2006 Updated10/21/2015 This case discusses the conflict between friendship and personal relationship on the one hand and professional responsibility on the other and how that conflict can lead to an uncomfortable situation or even result in unfairness. Contributor(s) Brian Schrag Authoring Institution Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE) Year 2000 Read More
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Code of Ethics http://ethics.iit.edu/ecodes/node/5770 Added09/23/2015 Updated12/06/2016 Outlines the ethical responsibilities of those who teach, research, study or practice criminal justice. This will link you to the latest version of the code in the Online Codes of Ethics Collection, which includes earlier versions of this code. You can also see other social sciences codes of ethics in this collection. Read More
Adventures in Collaborative Research (abridged) Added12/15/2017 Three-page, script-style case. Social science (oral history) and interdisciplinary research. Issues include authorship, mentoring, collaborative research, miscommunication, and human subjects research. Author(s) Kenneth D. Pimple Year 1999 Read More
AMA Code of Ethics http://ethics.iit.edu/ecodes/node/4725 Added11/24/2008 Updated06/29/2016 AMA's Code of Medical Ethics includes the basic duties of a physician. the AMA Medical Ethics Page includes a large number of opinions on a number of pressing medical ethics topics, as well as a history of the code. Read More
American Institute of Biological Sciences Ethics Statement http://ethics.iit.edu/ecodes/node/4505 Added02/06/2017 Outlines the ethical standards of the AIBS, including issues of conflict of interest, working with colleagues, and respecting the intellectual property of others. Year 2002 Read More
American Society for Human Genetics Code of Ethics http://ethics.iit.edu/ecodes/node/5926 Added09/23/2015 Updated06/29/2016 Lays out principles to help advance science, uphold the integrity of the society, and protect the privacy of individuals. You can also see other physical and biological sciences codes of ethics in this collection. Read More
American Society for Microbiology Ethical Guidelines for Authors http://ethics.iit.edu/ecodes/node/5679 Added09/22/2015 Updated06/29/2016 This code includes the principles for authors and an explanation of the ethical review process.This will link you to the latest version of the code in the Online Codes of Ethics Collection, which includes earlier versions of this code. You can also see other physical and biological sciences codes of ethics in this collection. Read More
An Engineer's Agreement with Two Firms Competing for the Same Contract (adapted from NSPE Case No. 80-4) Added06/10/2006 Updated12/10/2015 Ethical Engineering/Fair Trade This is an open-ended scenario for discussion based on a case from the NSPE Board of Ethical Review. An engineer is requested to participate in a joint venture for the same project with two competing firms. Students are asked to consider how this situation should be handled professionally and ethically. Authoring Institution Online Ethics Center Year 1999 Read More
An Outrage or "Cultural Difference"? Added09/10/2006 Updated10/29/2015 research ethics, responsible conduct of research, responsible research conduct, mentor, supervisor, collaborative work, collaboration, authorship, publishing, authorship practices, A scenario meant to stimulate discussion about the ethical implications of author lists in publications and especially when researchers from different institutions with different authorship practices collaborate. Author(s) Caroline Whitbeck Contributor(s) Caroline Whitbeck Year 2000 Read More
Animals (RCR Role Plays) Added09/23/2009 Updated06/15/2016 One of nine role play scenarios developed by Michael Loui and C. K. Gunsalus. This page, on research with animals, includes the summary, animals resources, and handouts to be given to various participants. The full role play instructions with discussion guidelines are included in pdf format. Author(s) Michael Loui C.K. Gunsalus Contributor(s) Michael Loui Year 2009 Read More
Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics http://ethics.iit.edu/ecodes/node/4362 Added03/10/2016 Updated03/24/2016 Code of ethics of the Australian Psychological Association. You can find more psychological codes of ethics in the Ethics Codes Collection. Read More
Author Order and Quality of Publication - Postdocs Added09/10/2006 Updated12/16/2015 research ethics, research, ethics, responsible conduct of research, responsible authorship, A scenario meant to stimulate discussion about the ethical issues that arise when multiple researchers contribute to a paper. Contributor(s) Caroline Whitbeck Caroline Whitbeck Year 2000 Read More
Authorship (RCR Role Plays) Added09/23/2009 Updated01/13/2016 One of nine role play scenarios developed by Michael Loui and C. K. Gunsalus. This page, on authorship issues, includes the summary, resources, and handouts to be given to various participants. The full role play instructions with discussion guidelines are included in pdf format. Author(s) Michael Loui C.K. Gunsalus Contributor(s) Michael Loui Year 2009 Read More
Bad Chemistry Added02/16/2006 Updated10/20/2015 credit, authorship, collaboration, publication, post-doc authorship This case demonstrates how the vagueness and uncertainty of conventions on credit and ownership create subtle but complex problems in the practice of science, also illustrating the subtleties of the authority relationship between student and professor. Contributor(s) Brian Schrag Authoring Institution Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE) Year 1998 Read More
Barking Up the Wrong Tree? Industry Funding of Academic Research Added02/16/2006 Updated11/11/2015 This case discusses issues such as the conflict of interest that arises from the impact of private industry funding, management of a research lab, student-mentor/ post-doc workplace relationships, and integrity of the researcher. Contributor(s) Brian Schrag Authoring Institution Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE) Year 1998 Read More
Bringing in the First Woman Added06/15/1992 Updated10/12/2015 Jim Grimaldi, projects manager in the Sunnyvale division of Universal Corporation, has just learned that in two weeks the headquarters in Los Angeles will be sending him a project engineer, Joan Dreer. Her job will be to supervise small groups of engineers involved in automotive brake design. The Los Angeles headquarters is anxious to move women into all company levels, and it has targeted Grimaldi's engineering division at Sunnyvale as a good place for Joan Dreer. Author(s) Michael Pritchard Contributor(s) Michael Pritchard Authoring Institution Center for the Study of Ethics in Society at Western Michigan University Year 1992 Read More
Building on a Premature Claim: A Cautionary Tale Added08/17/2006 Updated12/02/2015 A scenario that covers ethical issues that arise when a researcher finds she cannot duplicate the research of others. Author(s) Albert R. Meyer Caroline Whitbeck Year 2006 Read More
Copyright@1998 Case of the Killer Robot Added02/28/2006Updated04/25/2016A synopsis and index of the documents in the Case of the Killer Robot, a detailed hypothetical scenario that combines elements of software engineering and computer ethics. The case consists of several FICTIONAL newspaper articles. Author(s) Richard G. Epstein Mike Melamed Contributor(s) Richard G. Epstein Year 1998 More Info