Ethics

Question 1

What are some consequences of fabrication/falsification of data in scientific research?

Answer 1

1. Retraction of published papers and damage to reputation
2. Loss of funding and research grants

Question 2

What is the purpose(s) of research within natural sciences?

Answer 2

1. To produces consistent and stable results across the same conditions
2. To accurately assess what it is intended to measure

Question 2

What is the bioethical principle of autonomy?

Answer 2

Respecting an individual’s right to make their own decisions

Question 2

Which of the following can be considered important principles in research ethics?

Answer 2

1. Ensuring the confidentiality of research participants’ data
2. Protecting the rights and welfare of research participants
3. Honesty and transparency in reporting research findings

Question 3

What is the purpose(s) of research within natural sciences?

Answer 3

1. To maintain a neutral and impartial attitude towards research and its outcomes
2. To confirm or disprove previous research findings

Question 3

Which alternative(s) represents good research practice?

Answer 3

The practice of sharing research data, resources, and findings openly with others in the scientific community

Question 3

What activities constitute falsification of data in scientific research?

Answer 3

Altering or manipulating existing data to fit desired outcomes

Question 4

What is the purpose(s) of research within natural sciences?

Answer 4

1. To replicate research studies to confirm their findings and reduce the likelihood of false positive results
2. To make a neutral and impartial assessment of the natural world

Question 5

What activities constitute fabrication of data in scientific research?

Answer 5

Making up data that were never collected

Question 6

What signifies good research within natural sciences?

Answer 6

1. Results should be consistent under similar conditions
2. Should be independent of the funding agency

Question 6

What is fabrication in terms of scientific conduct?

Answer 6

Making up results that were never obtained

Question 7

What is considered ethical when reporting scientific results?

Answer 7

Removing data points that are outside the range of possible values

Question 8

Which of the following can be considered important principles in research ethics?

Answer 8

Honesty and transparency in reporting research findings

Question 9

In what situations does obtaining informed consent for participation in a study imply respect for personal autonomy?

Answer 9

1. When an adult makes and expresses an informed choice
2. When parents give informed consent on behalf of their toddler
3. When a sister gives informed consent on behalf of her unconscious brother, who previously has communicated his relevant preferences and values to her

Question 10

What is considered unethical handling of data in scientific research?

Answer 10

1. Changing research findings to match the expected results
2. Deliberately altering research data
3. Altering data to support a predetermined hypothesis

Question 11

What is the purpose(s) of research within natural sciences?

Answer 11

1. To uncover underlying principles and mechanisms
2. To be free from bias

Question 12

Which are potential examples of violating confidentiality in research?

Answer 12

1. Disclosing participants’ personal information without their consent
2. Sharing anonymized raw data with colleagues for collaborative research
3. Including participants with similar characteristics in a study without their knowledge

Question 13

What are some of the consequences of scientific misconduct?

Answer 13

1. Undermines the integrity and credibility of science
2. Wastes valuable resources and time of researchers and institutions
3. Misleads the public and policy-makers based on false or manipulated data

Question 14

Which of the following are examples of scientific misconduct?

Answer 14

1. Failing to report results that contradict a hypothesis
2. Selecting research data to obtain desired results

Question 15

Which of the following are examples of scientific misconduct?

Answer 15

1. Intentionally mislabeling a sample in the lab
2. Creating research data to support a hypothesis

Question 16

What are some of the consequences of scientific misconduct?

Answer 16

1. Could undermine public trust in science and scientific institutions
2. Delays scientific progress and hinders the development of new treatments or technologies
3. Loss of funding and reputation for the researcher and institution involved

Question 17

Why is it important to avoid research misconduct?

Answer 17

1. The researcher should not risk breaking the law in Sweden that regulates the responsibility for good research practice
2. People could suffer severe harm if medical treatment is based on data that has been altered
3. Research misconduct can erode the trust between researchers, funding agencies and people who participate in research projects, e.g., patients and research subjects
4. Research misconduct undermines the confidence in scientific results

Question 18

How can research misconduct be avoided?

Answer 18

1. Each researcher should be updated on rules and regulations for good research practice in order to avoid research misconduct
2. The researcher should understand what is meant by honest errors and differences in opinion versus research misconduct

Question 19

Which of the following are examples of potential conflicts of interest in research?

Answer 19

1. The editor was until recently the authors supervisor
2. The researcher’s spouse has stocks in a company that could benefit from the study results

Question 20

Which of the following are examples of potential conflicts of interest in research?

Answer 20

1. The researcher owns stock in a company that could benefit from the study results 2. The research is funded by a private company

Question 21

What potential harm is most important to consider in biobank research?

Answer 21

Harm related to sensitive personal information in the biobank

Question 22

Who investigates research misconduct at Uppsala University?

Answer 22

1. A national authority - Board for Assessment of Research Misconduct 2. Uppsala University - Board for the Investigation of Misconduct in Research

Question 23

Harm, and risk of harm, from participation in research may be of different kinds. What statements are correct?

Answer 23

Research may be harmful even if it contains no invasive procedures and no sensitive information

Question 24

Which of the following are example of violation of the principle of confidentiality in research?

Answer 24

The researcher discloses participants' personal information to third parties without their consent

Question 25

What is correct regarding the Vancouver rules on publishing?

Answer 25

1. Include authors that substantially contributed to the research itself 2. Provide guidelines for citing and referencing sources in scientific writing 3. Require authors to disclose any potential conflicts of interest

Question 26

What does it always imply when a study involving human or animal participants gets ethical approval from the relevant authorities?

Answer 26

All things considered; the benefits of research are deemed more important in relation to the study than the disadvantages of participation

Question 26

Who could be included as an author in the publication of scientific work?

Answer 26

1. The colleague who contributed with important intellectual interpretation of results 2. The post doc who drafted the manuscript

Question 26

What is correct regarding the Vancouver rules for authorship?

Answer 26

1. To make sure that all authors can take appropriate responsibility for the paper 2. Require authors to disclose any potential conflicts of interest

Question 27

Salami slicing of papers is bad primarily for the reason that

Answer 27

It overrepresents the research field

Question 28

Which of the following statements is true of ethical review of research applications involving human beings in Sweden?

Answer 28

Ethical review is conducted by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority

Question 29

What is the main objective of the Nagoya Protocol?

Answer 29

To regulate access to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits that accrue from the utilization of these

Question 30

Who could be included as an author in the publication of scientific work?

Answer 30

1. The master’s student who collected the data 2. The professor who designed the study

Question 31

What statement is true of research involving sensitive personal data?

Answer 31

Ethical approval is always required when processing such data for research purposes

Question 32

Who could be included as an author in the publication of scientific work?

Answer 32

1. The technician who collected the data 2. The PhD-student who analysed the data

Question 33

Which of the following is a common criterion for being an author on a research article?

Answer 33

Having reviewed and provided feedback on the manuscript

Question 34

Which of these inputs do not merit authorship according to Vancouver?

Answer 34

Being in charge of the research group

Question 35

For work normally requiring ethical review: When is it relevant to apply for an ethical review of a student’s work?

Answer 35

1. If student’s work is to be published in a scientific journal 2. If the work is to be included in a doctoral thesis 3. When student’s work is part of the supervisor’s project

Question 36

You should keep away from so-called predatory journals, because?

Answer 36

1. They often lack a proper peer-review process 2. They have low academic quality

Question 37

What activities justify a person as an author on a research paper?

Answer 37

1. Conducting literature review and preparing the manuscript 2. Contributing to the study design and data analysis

Question 38

Which of the following are examples of reputable and reliable venues for research publication?

Answer 38

1. Nature and Science journals 2. Peer-reviewed journals published by established academic publishers such as Elsevier or Springer