An Introduction to Research Ethics (Part 1)

During a group meeting in grad school, a member reported her recent laboratory findings to the rest of us. At one point in the talk, she reported a significant increase in product yield (nearly 40%) when she switched solvent systems. My PI spoke up. “How many milligrams of product do you have,” he asked.

“Two or three hundred,” she confidently responded.

“And it’s pure?”

“Yes.”

“And you have clean proton and carbon spectra?” Silence. “You don’t have data?” Silence. “What good is the experiment, if you can’t prove that you’ve made the product?” Silence. “You cannot report findings unless you have data. Why don’t you know this?”

Great question. Or better yet, where does the disconnect lay when it comes to ethical research behavior? Is it a gap due to cultural or language issues (she was from a different country)? Is it just plain ignorance? Is it simply a blatant disregard for acceptable behavior?

I’ve mentally wrestled with these questions for a few years, and I’ve arrived at several conclusions:

1. Ethical behavior begins in the home. We learn a lot of our initial ethical perception from our parents/guardians/influences.
2. Learning to do the right thing is (or should be) perpetuated in grade school. Students learn that stealing is wrong, honesty is the best policy, and the Golden Rule supersedes all.
3. Professional ethics lies in the beginning of professional training/development. For example, a police officer is taught when it's acceptable to use deadly force at his academy or barracks whereas a restauranteur learns how best to treat his customers in business school or during on-the-job training.

This semester, I am teaching a course in research chemistry, an opportunity to expose undergrads to exploring "uncharted waters" as scientists. But, before getting our hands wet (so to speak), I have planned an interactive lecture on research ethics. I aim to encourage discussion for a number of ethical situations ranging from reporting false data to laboratory safety (instances compiled from Kovac's The Ethical Chemist - see left).

Stay tuned for more developments, as research ethics is a personal area of interest.