851-0180-00L Research Ethics
| Semester | Autumn Semester 2016 |
| Lecturers | G. Achermann |
| Periodicity | yearly recurring course |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Comment | Particularly suitable for students of D-BIOL, D-CHAB, D-HEST |
Courses
| Number | Title | Hours | Lecturers | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 851-0180-00 G | Research Ethics
 This course is offered in two parallel classes with the same content on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. One additional hour of home work per week will be required | 2 hrs |
| G. Achermann |
Catalogue data
| Abstract | This course has its focus on the responsible conduct of research (RCR) and the ethical dimensions of the biological and biomedical sciences. |
| Learning objective | The main goal of this course is to enhance the student's ability to: - recognize and identify ethical issues and conflicts, - analyze and develop well-reasoned responses to the kinds of ethical problems a scientist is likely to encounter. Additionally, students will become familiar with regulations and ethical guidelines relevant for their research field on the international, governmental, institutional and professional level. To achieve these objectives, teaching methods will include lectures, discussions, case study work (alone and in groups), moral games, paper work and exercises. |
| Content | I. Ethics & the Process of Ethical Inquiry --------------------------------------- Introduction in Ethics and Research Ethics - What is ethics? What ethics is not...; - Awareness: what constitutes an ethical question? Distinguishing ethical questions from other kinds of questions; Science & ethics: a comparison; - The ethics movement in the biological and health sciences; - What is research ethics and why is it important? - Values (personal, cultural & ethical) in science & principles for ethical conduct in research; - Professional codes of conduct: functions and limitations Ethical approaches in the conduct of research (Normative Ethics) - Overview over important theories for research ethics: virtue theories, duty-based theories (rights theory, categorical imperative, prima facie duties), consequentialist theories, other theories); - The plurality of ethical theories and its consequences; - The concept of dignity Moral reasoning I: Arguments - Why arguments? What is a good argument? The structure of (moral) arguments; - Deductive and inductive arguments; Validity and soundness; - Assessing moral arguments Moral reasoning II: Decision-making - How (not) to approach ethical issues...; Is there a correct method for answering moral questions? - Models of method in Applied Ethics: a) Top-down approaches; b) the reflective equilibrium; c) a bottom-up approach: casuistry (or reasoning-by-analogy); - Is there a right answer? II. Research Ethics / Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) ---------------------------------------------------------- Integrity in Research & Research Misconduct - What is "integrity" in scientific research? What is research misconduct (falsification, fabrication, plagiarism - FFP) and questionable research practices (QRP)? - Factors leading to misconduct; Procedure for responding to allegations of research misconduct; - The confidant of ETH Zurich Data Management - Data collection and recordkeeping; Analysis and selection of data; - Ownership of data; retention and sharing of data; - Falsification and fabrication of data Research involving animals - The moral status of animals; Ethical approaches to animal experimentation: Animal welfare (Peter Singer) and Animal rights (Tom Regan); - The 3 R's (replacement, reduction, refinement); - Ethical assessment of conflicting issues in animal experimentation; - The dignity of animals in the Swiss constitution; Research involving human subjects - History & guidelines (Nuremberg Code; Declaration of Helsinki; Belmont Report; International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects (CIOMS Guidelines); Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (Oviedo Convention); - Informed consent; confidentiality and anonymity; research risks and benefits; vulnerable subjects; - Clinical trials; - Biobanks - Ethics Committees / Institutional Review Boards (IRB) Authorship & Peer review - Criteria for authorship; - Plagiarism; - Challenges to openness and freedom in scientific publication; - Open access - Peer review Social responsibility - What is social responsibility? Social responsibility: whose obligation? - Public advocacy by researchers |
| Lecture notes | Course material (handouts, case studies, exercises, surveys and papers) will be available during the lectures and on the course homepage. |
| Literature | Recommended literature: - Bulger R.E., Heitman E. & Reiser S.J. (2002) "The Ethical Dimensions of the Biological and Health Sciences" 2nd ed., Cambridge University Press - Shamoo A.E. & Resnik D.B. (2003) "Responsible Conduct of Research", New York, Oxford University Press - "On Being a Scientist. Responsible Conduct in Research (2009)" 3rd ed., http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12192; - "Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research" (http://ori.dhhs.gov/education/products/RCRintro/) Detailed literature lists for the different topics of the course will be provided in the script/handout or on the course work space. |
Performance assessment
| Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again) | |
Performance assessment as a semester course | |
| ECTS credits | 2 credits |
| Examiners | G. Achermann |
| Type | end-of-semester examination |
| Language of examination | English |
| Repetition | A repetition date will be offered in the first two weeks of the semester immediately consecutive. |
| Additional information on mode of examination | The written examination will take 90 minutes. |
Learning materials
| No public learning materials available. | |
| Only public learning materials are listed. |
Groups
| No information on groups available. |
Restrictions
| General |  : Special students and auditors need a special permission from the lecturers |
