Research Ethics for Scientists

Research Ethics for Scientists is about best practices in all the major areas of research management and practice that are common to scientific researchers, especially those in academia. Aimed towards the younger scientist, the book critically examines the key areas that continue to plague even experienced and well-meaning science professionals.

For ease of use, the book is arranged in functional themes and units that every scientist recognizes as crucial for sustained success in science; ideas, people, data, publications and funding. These key themes will help to highlight the elements of successful and ethical research as well as challenging the reader to develop their own ideas of how to conduct themselves within their work.

Tackles the ethical issues of being a scientist rather than the ethical questions raised by science itself

• Case studies used for a practical approach

• Written by an experienced researcher and PhD mentor

• Accessible, user-friendly advice

• Indispensible companion for students and young scientists

Auteur
C. Neal Stewart, Jr., Professor and Ivan Racheff Chair of Excellence, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

Résumé
Research Ethics for Scientists is about best practices in all the major areas of research management and practice that are common to scientific researchers, especially those in academia. Aimed towards the younger scientist, the book critically examines the key areas that continue to plague even experienced and well-meaning science professionals. For ease of use, the book is arranged in functional themes and units that every scientist recognizes as crucial for sustained success in science; ideas, people, data, publications and funding. These key themes will help to highlight the elements of successful and ethical research as well as challenging the reader to develop their own ideas of how to conduct themselves within their work.

Tackles the ethical issues of being a scientist rather than the ethical questions raised by science itself

• Case studies used for a practical approach
• Written by an experienced researcher and PhD mentor
• Accessible, user-friendly advice
• Indispensible companion for students and young scientists

Contenu
Preface xi Acknowledgements and Dedication xiii

Chapter 1 Research Ethics: The Best Ethical Practices Produce the Best Science 1

Judge yourself 4

Morality vs ethics 4

Inauspicious beginnings 6

How science works 7

Summary 9

Judge yourself redux 9

Chapter 2 How Corrupt is Science? 11

Judge yourself 12

"Scientists behaving badly" 12

Do scientists behave worse with experience? 14

Judge yourself 15

Crime and punishment 15

Judge yourself 17

Judge yourself redux 18

Judge yourself redux 19

Judge yourself redux 19

Summary 20

Chapter 3 Plagiarise and Perish 21

Ideas 23

Sentences 23

Phrases 23

A hoppy example 24

What is plagiarism, really? 24

Judge yourself 25

How many consecutive identical and uncited words constitute plagiarism? 25

Self-plagiarism and recycling 26

Judge yourself 27

Judge yourself 31

Tools to discover plagiarism 33

Self-plagiarism and ethics revisited 34

Judge yourself 34

Is plagiarism getting worse? 35

The case of the plagiarising graduate student 35

Judge yourself redux 36

v

Judge yourself redux 37

Judge yourself redux 37

Summary 38

Chapter 4 Finding the Perfect Mentor 39

Caveat 40

Choosing a mentor 40

Judge yourself 43

Choosing a graduate project 46

Judge yourself 47

Mentors for assistant professors 47

How to train your mentor 52

Choosing the right research project: the new graduate student's dilemma 54

Judge yourself redux 56

Judge yourself redux 56

Summary 56

Chapter 5 Becoming the Perfect Mentor 57

Grants and contracts are a prerequisite to productive science 57

Judge yourself 58

Publications are the fruit of research 59

On a personal level 59

Judge yourself 60

Common and predictable mistakes scientist make at key stages in their training and careers and how being a good mentor can make improvements 60

Questions 70

Judge yourself redux 71

Judge yourself redux 71

Summary 72

Chapter 6 Research Misconduct: Fabricating Data 73

Why cheat? 74

Judge yourself 76

The case of Jan Hendrick Sch¨on, "Plastic Fantastic" 76

The case of Woo-Suk Hwang: dog cloner, data fabricator 77

Judge yourself 78

Detection of image and data misrepresentation 78

Judge yourself 81

Neither here nor there the curious case of Homme Hellinga 81

Judge yourself 83

Lessons learnt 83

Judge yourself redux 84

Judge yourself redux 84

Judge yourself redux 84

Summary 85

Chapter 7 Research Misconduct: Falsification and Whistleblowing 87

A "can of worms" indeed: the case of Elizabeth "Betsy" Goodwin 89

Judge yourself 91

Judge yourself 92

Judge yourself 94

Judge yourself 98

Deal with ethical quandaries informally if possible 99

Judge yourself 100

Cultivating a culture of openness, integrity, and accountability 100 Judge yourself redux ...