Research Ethics Flashcards
What distinguishes the ethical frameworks of consequentialism and deontology from each other? Mark all correct options.
a) Unlike deontology, consequentialism focuses solely on consequences when evaluating the moral status of actions.
b) Unlike consequentialism, deontology attributes moral status to actions, rather than the consequences of actions.
c) While both consequentialism and deontology are ‘consequence-oriented frameworks’, consequentialism (unlike deontology) only attributes moral status to the immediate consequences of actions. Deontology also takes their indirect consequences into account.
Answer: a), b)
Consequentialism and deontology both make important contributions to research ethics, but in what way? Mark all correct options.
a) Deontology respects rights and explains why credit attribution needs to be done carefully.
b) Deontology emphasises that harming another human is bad, no matter what.
c) Consequentialism emphasises the greater good, thus factoring in the effects of a scientific study not only on the particular subjects, but on the whole scientific community, as well as on humans in general.
d) Consequentialism factors in the epistemic goals of science (good predictions, for instance).
Answer: a), b), c), d)
What is virtue ethics about? Characterize virtue ethics by the claims below. Mark all correct options.
a) You learn how to be a virtuous person by attempting to behave like other virtuous persons.
b) Morality consists in the possession and exemplification of good character traits.
c) A virtue-ethical framework consists of a list of duties that all humans are morally obliged to follow.
d) Morality is not (primarily) about duties and consequences.
Answer: a), b), d)
Which of these are examples of consequentialist arguments for using the principle of informed consent? Mark all correct options.
a) If people are allowed to decide for themselves, people’s rights to their own bodies are respected and that is one fundamental right that cannot be violated.
b) If people are allowed to decide for themselves, better consequences are generated, since we all know what makes ourselves happy better than anyone else does.
c) If people are allowed to decide for themselves, people’s trust in science increases, which makes them more likely to participate in scientific studies, which could help save lives.
Answer: b), c)
Which of the following statements about the morality of fabricating and falsifying data are correct? Mark all correct options.
a) To fabricate or falsify is to lie, and lying is (typically) deontologically prohibited.
b) Fabricating or falsifying data is dishonest and exhibits poor character traits.
c) Falsification isn’t morally blameworthy since we can never draw the line between falsification and acceptable manipulation of data.
d) Fabricating or falsifying data could produce bad consequences, such as reducing the public’s trust in science.
e) All bad methodology is morally blameworthy, and since both fabrication and falsification are examples of bad methodology, they are always morally blameworthy.
Answer: a), b), d)
How can we mitigate the effects of scientific misconduct in the form of fabrication, falsification or plagiarism? Mark all correct options.
a) We should trust that the problem resolves on its own.
b) We should impose continued scrutiny of findings, perhaps by increasing repetition and replication of experiments.
c) We should support the peer-review system and expose wrongdoers.
d) We should counteract such conduct by requiring transparency in scientific institutions.
Answer: b), c) , d)
According to the 2003 definition by the ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors), what are the criteria that someone needs to fulfil in order to be the author of a publication? Mark all correct options.
a) Contributing to the funding of the work reported on in the publication.
b) Final approval of the work.
c) Performing the work alone.
d) Substantial contribution to the conception (the creation) of the work.
e) Agreeing to be fully accountable for all aspects of the work.
f) Drafting the final work.
Answer: b), d), e), f)
Which of the following moral concerns should researchers weigh in when conducting a study? Mark all correct options.
a) The promotion of the total good by the study.
b) The efficiency of their efforts.
c) Their own interests and inclinations.
d) Their intentions with the study.
Answer: a), b), c), d)
Now that you have watched all videos on ethics, which of the following statements about ethics in science are true? Mark all correct options.
a) The three ethical frameworks sometimes result in different verdicts. One example of this is the question of moral career choices.
b) Ghost and gift authorship are arguably unethical practices according to all three ethical frameworks.
c) Scientific misconduct is not unethical, it is just methodologically bad.
d) In order to do a good ethical analysis of a scientific project we often need to apply more than one ethical framework.
e) Out of the three ethical frameworks, deontology is the only one that can be used to argue for the principle of informed consent in science.
Answer: a), b), d)
