PHIL/MBIOL 7570
CASE STUDIES IN RESEARCH ETHICS

Syllabus

Fall Schedule

Spring Schedule

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Course Goals

This is course designed to meet two basic goals. First, it meets the Office of Research Integrity's (ORI) recommendations that all federally funded researchers have ethics education in nine core areas of responsible conduct of research. The course will cover the nine recommended core areas plus additional topics. Second, the course is designed to act as a forum and resource for research ethics issues across the disciplines and across the university. To meet these goals the course uses case studies as its primary teaching tool. Case studies are the best method in which to increase student's exposure to the issues and provide students with an opportunity to engage the ethical issues inherent in scientific research on a critical and informed level.

Course Structure

PHIL 7570 is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters, each with a slightly different focus. The Fall semester emphasizes issues in the biomedical sciences (cross-listed with MBIOL 7570), whereas the Spring semester focuses on social and behavioral sciences. Nevertheless, both semesters cover essentially the same topics, including research misconduct, data management, conflicts of interest, intellectual property, use of human and animal subjects, authorship issues, mentoring, collaborative research, and social responsibility of researchers.

Except for the first and last meeting of each semester, each class meeting will begin with a large group presentation on the topic for the day, then break out into small-group sections to discuss relevant case studies. The small-group discussions will be led by faculty from a variety of departments.

Course Requirements & Policy

Texts

• ORI: Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research. Available for free download (pdf format) from   http://ori.dhhs.gov/publications/ori_intro_text.shtml

• Additional readings and case studies available on the course schedule.

Credit

All participants who want receive credit will be expected to complete the following requirements. If they are not all completed satisfactorily, no credit will be received.

Fall 2008	Spring 2009
(1) Attendance and Readings : All participants are expected to attend no less than eight (8) out of the ten (10) scheduled class meetings (attendance will be taken each day ). If the student misses more than the two allowed, the student may make-up only one missed class by providing a written summary of the assigned reading for the missed day, as well as an analysis and evaluation of one case study also assigned during the missed day. Make-ups are due by the last day of schedule meetings, but preferably the class meeting following the missed classand. In addition to attendance, students are expected to keep up with assigned readings and posted case studies prior to the scheduled class. Since much of the course depends on the quality of discussions, it is critical that students come prepared. Readings and case studies will be posted on the course schedule. (2) Final Paper : Each participant expecting credit will write a short paper describing and analyzing a case study of interest to that student. Case studies can be taken from any of the posted cases studies on the course website, or if the student finds an article in a recent journal describing a case of interest to the student, that is also acceptable (full bibliographic citation will be required, as well as a copy of the article from which the case is taken). Check with the course director if you have questions about appropriate cases and materials. Papers should be written as essays (maximum of 5 pages, double spaced) that critically explore and evaluate a central ethical issue in the case. To be acceptable, the final paper must include, at minimum, the following: Brief (one paragraph) description of the case in the student's own words; Identification of the central ethical dilemma, and relevant ethical principles involved in the case; Discussion of several (at least two) alternative course of action that address the central issue; and Discussion of which course of action should be taken, and why. Deadline for Final Papers: Papers will not be accepted via e-mail, except under prior arrangement with the course director. Be sure to include your name on the paper before submitting them. Papers must be turned into either (a) the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance in the Research Administration Building, office #108 or (b) papers can be turned into the front desk of the Department of Philosophy, CTIHB, 4th floor. Final papers will be due no later than: Fall: Thursday, November 20, 2008 by 4:00 PM.	(1) Attendance and Readings : All participants are expected to attend all eight (8) scheduled class meetings (attendance will be taken each day ). If a class meeting is missed, the student may make-up only the missed classes by providing a written summary of the assigned reading for the missed day, as well as an analysis and evaluation of at leat one case study also assigned during the missed day. No m ore than two classes may be missed. Make-ups are due by the last day of schedule meetings, but preferably the class meeting following the missed classand. In addition to attendance, students are expected to keep up with assigned readings and posted case studies prior to the scheduled class. Since much of the course depends on the quality of discussions, it is critical that students come prepared. Readings and case studies will be posted on the course schedule. (2) Final Paper : Each participant expecting credit will write a short paper describing and analyzing a case study of interest to that student. Case studies can be taken from any of the posted cases studies on the course website, or if the student finds an article in a recent journal describing a case of interest to the student, that is also acceptable (full bibliographic citation will be required, as well as a copy of the article from which the case is taken). Check with the course director if you have questions about appropriate cases and materials. Papers should be written as essays (maximum of 5 pages, double spaced) that critically explore and evaluate a central ethical issue in the case. To be acceptable, the final paper must include, at minimum, the following: Brief (one paragraph) description of the case in the student's own words; Identification of the central ethical dilemma, and relevant ethical principles involved in the case; Discussion of several (at least two) alternative course of action that address the central issue; and Discussion of which course of action should be taken, and why. Deadline for Final Papers: Papers will not be accepted via e-mail, except under prior arrangement with the course director. Be sure to include your name on the paper before submitting them. Papers must be turned into either (a) the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance in the Research Administration Building, office #108 or (b) papers can be turned into the front desk of the Department of Philosophy, CTIHB, 4th floor. Final papers will be due no later than: Spring: Thursday, March 12, 2009 by 4:00PM

Other Policies

• General Student Responsibilities

  Students are responsible for the content of the course even if they are absent from the scheduled class meetings. This includes the requirement that students attend both the general lecture and small group discussion sections scheduled.

• Academic Misconduct

  Academic misconduct, which includes cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty, will not be tolerated in this course and will be dealt with severely. If caught cheating or plagiarizing, student will receive a failing grade for the course and be reported to the University administration for possible further sanction. Students are responsible for knowing and understanding the University's policy on academic misconduct. More information is in the Student Code, available at http://www.sa.utah.edu/code/.
  

  * Drop/Withdrawal and other important dates

  http://www.saff.utah.edu/regist/calendar/datesDeadlines/fall2004.htm
  

  * Assistance with writing or researching

  Tutoring is available through the ASUU Tutoring Center in the Student Services Building, Room 330. Students may schedule a day, evening or weekend appointment.   Students who qualify for a Pell Grant may also qualify for free tutoring.   For more information call 581-5153 or go to http://www.sa.utah.edu/Tutoring/.

  Writing Center located at the Marriott Library.   More information can be found by going to http://www.writingcenter.utah.edu/.
  

  * (ADA) Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

  The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities.   If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD).   CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services. For more information go to http://disability.utah.edu/.

   

  * Accommodations policy

  All of the course content, reading assignments, films, assignments, and other teaching materials have been chosen in order to achieve the pedagogical objectives of this course best. Some of the writings, lectures, films, or presentations in this course may include material that conflicts with the core beliefs of some students. Please review the syllabus carefully to see if the course is one that you are committed to taking. We will not make content accommodations in this course. http://www.admin.utah.edu/facdev/index.html

Course Contacts