Welcome to MBB 194, Research Ethics. In this case-based course we will learn how to evaluate the ethical nature of activities in the light of commonly held values in the science field.

Scientific research is a complex activity guided by a number of ethical values that help ensure the integrity and reliability of research results. The most important values in scientific research include:

1. Honesty and Integrity: Researchers must be truthful about their findings, methods, and potential conflicts of interest, and must not manipulate or fabricate data. They must also be transparent in their reporting and sharing of results.
2. Objectivity and Impartiality: Researchers should not be influenced by personal biases, beliefs, or interests. They should strive to approach their research with an open mind and be willing to revise their hypotheses or conclusions in light of new evidence.
3. Respect for Human Dignity and Autonomy: Researchers must respect the dignity and autonomy of human subjects, including their right to privacy, informed consent, and protection from harm. Researchers must take steps to ensure that participants are fully informed about the risks and benefits of participating in research and that their rights and welfare are protected.
4. Confidentiality and Privacy: Researchers must take steps to ensure that personal information is kept confidential and that participants’ privacy is respected.
5. Responsible Conduct of Research: Researchers must comply with laws and regulations governing research, and adhere to ethical standards and guidelines practiced in their field. They must conduct research in a safe and ethical manner, and that any potential risks to human subjects or the environment are minimized.
6. Academic freedom. Researchers value the to choose the problems they want to investigate and the approaches of study. Academic freedom, like any right, is not absolute: some methods accepted in the past are not considered ethical today, such as human experimentation without prior informed consent. The tenure system is a way to recognize one’s ability to choose research problems that do not impinge, and instead promote, the research of others.
   

Adhering to these values wins the trust of the public and trust among members of the research community, which help bring the benefits of science to society.

In the next section we describe the scope of ethics beginning with the three concepts that are often used interchangeably but in fact have distinct meanings: legal, ethical, and moral.