Ethics and Experimental Research projects 16.621
Ethics and Experimental Research Projects 16.621
Why be concerned about ethics? Science and engineering are professions whose integrity rely on the participants behaving in ethical Ways. Unethical behavior can lead to loss of life, property, or other resources Individuals can also lose respect and their reputation. Without ethics, the profession loses the public trust, in which case it will not be valued or it will become highly regulated with much oversight Due to past transgressions our profession has lost considerable public trust. Oversight has increased. Current aerospace companies and agencies place considerable priority on ethics training and ethical conduct
Why be concerned about ethics? • Science and engineering are professions whose integrity rely on the participants behaving in ethical ways. • Unethical behavior can lead to loss of life, property, or other resources. • Individuals can also lose respect and their reputation. • Without ethics, the profession loses the public trust, in which case it will not be valued or it will become highly regulated with much oversight. • Due to past transgressions, our profession has lost considerable public trust. Oversight has increased. • Current aerospace companies and agencies place considerable priority on ethics training and ethical conduct
Macro and micro ethics Macro ethics affect large segments of society, e.g safety of an aircraft or a nuclear power plant Micro ethics affect individuals or small groups, e.g. Impact on a student or employee. ·“ Ethics and the second law of thermodyamics” by norm augustine is an excellent easy to read introduction to this topic In 1662x we are mainly concerned about micro ethics surrounding data collection and handling, and reporting of results Remember -all of us have human weaknesses! The Bridge, National Academy of Engineering, Fall 2002, pp 4-7
Macro and Micro Ethics • Macro ethics affect large segments of society, e.g. safety of an aircraft or a nuclear power plant • Micro ethics affect individuals or small groups, e.g. impact on a student or employee. • “Ethics and the Second Law of Thermodyamics” by Norm Augustine* is an excellent easy to read introduction to this topic. • In 16.62X we are mainly concerned about micro ethics surrounding data collection and handling, and reporting of results. Remember - All of us have human weaknesses! *The Bridge, National Academy of Engineering, Fall 2002, pp 4-7
Three basic ethical principles Full disclosure Dont hide anything Operate under the principle that one day, you may run for public office and be fully investigated You don 't want any skeletons in the closet Dont“ invent the truth Be an objective, unbiased researcher Give credit for source of information or ideas Don't claim something was your discovery when it was someone elses idea Note: this is one reason why you keep a notebook so the source of your ideas are clear
Three basic ethical principles • Full disclosure – Don't hide anything. – Operate under the principle that one day, you may run for public office and be fully investigated. – You don't want any skeletons in the closet. • Don’t “invent” the truth – Be an objective, unbiased researcher • Give credit for source of information or ideas. – Don't claim something was your discovery when it was someone else's idea. – Note: this is one reason why you keep a notebook so the source of your ideas are clear
Things to avoid in handling data Cooking the data Retaining only those points that fit the theory and discarding others Trimming the data Smoothing of irregularities to make the data look extremely accurate and precise Forging data Should be patently clear that it is unacceptable to“ invent“data Yet it has happened How or when might this occur? all data is“ real data Seek to explain outlying data points-it might be an important discovery If you don't use a data point, explain why
Things to avoid in handling data • Cooking the data – Retaining only those points that fit the theory and discarding others • Trimming the data – Smoothing of irregularities to make the data look extremely accurate and precise • Forging data – Should be patently clear that it is unacceptable to “invent “data – Yet it has happened! How or when might this occur? • All data is “real data” – Seek to explain outlying data points - it might be an important discovery – If you don’t use a data point, explain why