Research Integrity

1
Research Integrity Ethics Training (RIET)for
Engineering Faculty Postgraduate Research (PGR)
Students

• Facilitator Genevieve Gorrell
• g.gorrell_at_sheffield.ac.uk

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Summary of the Course

• Opening lecture
• 3 discussion-based seminars
• Monday February 13th from 10am to 12pm
• Monday March 5th from 10am to 12pm
• Monday April 2nd from 10am to 12pm
• There will be a final seminar (Faculty of
  Engineering RIET Day) with all departments
• Then you will complete the assessment form.

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About the Course

• Ethics are a personal choice, and so this course
  is not about teaching ethics!
• It is about developing our viewpoint through
  debating with othersso we can become thoughtful
  practicioners.
• So this is not a taught courseI am here to
  facilitate only.
• You must research and debate the topics yourself.
• (That said, I will give a couple of slides today
  to try to help things along a bit!)

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Why Behave Ethically?

• People's perspectives on ethics vary, e.g.
• Utilitarianthe greatest good for the greatest
  number
• Human Rightseveryone is entitled to certain
  privileges
• Justice and fairness
• Personal virtueit benefits the individual to
  develop their integrity
• Religious dictatesthe will of God.
• Reasons for behaving ethically affect a person's
  perception of what is the right thing to do.

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Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

• Kohlberg postulates that morality falls into
  identifiable developmental stages
• Level 1Pre-Conventional
• 1How can I avoid punishment
• 2Self-interestwhat's in it for me?
• Level 2Conventional
• 3I should conform to expectations
• 4Others should conform to expectations
• Level 3Post-Conventional
• 5Social contractthe system is there to serve us
• 6Universal ethical principlese.g. inner drive
  to treat others well, ethics grounded in
  compassion

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KohlbergIllustrative example

• It's not what you do but why you do it
• Should I report false results in my thesis?
• Stage 1--No because I might get caught
• Stage 2--Yes because then I will pass
• Stage 3--No because that would mean I am bad
• Stage 4--No because it is against the rules
• Stage 5--No because other people have a right to
  expect the truth in scientific publications or
  yes because I deserve to pass and this is only a
  small thing.
• Stage 6--No because truth is integral to science

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Seminar 1

• In the first seminar we discussed a variety of
  ethical dilemmas
• Use of personal data without consent
• Data may be publicly availabledoes that make it
  okay to use it?
• Data may be used for scientific advancedoes that
  make it okay to use it?
• However, authorities may abuse the technology in
  the form of a police state
• Misuse of scientific findingsto what extent are
  we responsible for how our work is used?
• For example, media frequently misrepresent
  findings to create sensational stories or in
  order to simplify
• This can cause damaging results

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Seminar 2

• In this seminar, we will form work groups to
  prepare topics in more depth
• In the third seminar we will give presentations
  of our topics
• A group will be chosen to represent us at the
  RIET day
• At the RIET day, the chosen group will present
  their topic

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Lets Introduce Ourselves

• What is your name?
• What do you work on?
• What do you hope to get out of the course?
• What ideas do you have about a topic you might
  like to focus on?

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In this Session

• We will split into groups who want to work on
  similar topic areas
• Each group should define the central question of
  their topic choice
• E.g. should the department accept military
  funding?
• Discuss the salient aspects and possible
  viewpoints for the topic for the rest of the
  session. Take notes!
• At the end of the session we will report back on
  our topic choices and how the discussion went.

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Some Points to Consider

• What is the central question in the topic?
• What are the relevant aspects?
• Argue both sides of the case
• For each side of the case, who is hurt by it?
• In what way might different moral standpoints
  dictate a different response?
• In what way might different circumstances dictate
  a different response?

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Seminar 3

• Each group should prepare a 20 minute
  presentation of their topic for Seminar 3
• Each group will take a turn to present and the
  rest of the group will comment on their
  presentation
• A group will then be chosen to present a 10
  minute version of their presentation at the RIET
  day