Ethics in Scientific Research: An Examination of Ethical Principles and Emerging Topics
Abstract
Scientific research ethics vary by discipline and by country, and this study sought to understand those variations. Our team reviewed literature from across scientific disciplines and conducted interviews with experts in the United States, Europe, and China. Our analysis led to an understanding of which ethics are common across disciplines, how these ethics might vary geographically, and how emerging topics are shaping future ethics. We focused on the ethics of scientific research and how the research is conducted, rather than on how the research is applied. This distinction excluded from our research an analysis of so-called dual use applications for military purposes. Our literature review of more than 200 documents led us to identify ten ethical principles that are generally common from one scientific discipline to another, shown in Table S.1.We found that these principles often can be traced to such foundational documents as the Nuremberg Code (in 1947), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(1948), the Declaration of Helsinki (1968), the European Charter of Fundamental Rights (2000), and others.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1096839
Entities
People
- Carlos I. Gutierrez
- Cortney Weinbaum
- Eric Landree
- Marjory S. Blumenthal
- Tepring Piquado
Organizations
- RAND Corporation