title: Cross-Field Comparison of Ethics Education: Golden Rules and Particulars.
abstract: Research misconduct negatively impacts the scientific community and society in general. Providing training in the responsible conduct of research (RCR) to researchers is one viable approach to minimizing research misconduct. Although recent evidence suggests ethics training can indeed be effective, little empirical work has examined the similarities and differences across fields. In the present study, we analyzed 62 empirical studies in engineering, biomedical science, social science, and mixed fields. The findings suggest certain instructional principles, or "golden rules," apply generally to all fields. These golden rules include maintaining a field-specific or field-general approach and emphasizing processes in training. The findings also suggest that content areas contributing to instructional effectiveness vary as a function of field. Generally, it appears that all fields may benefit from taking a multi-pronged approach to ethics education wherein the salient field issues are covered. Implications for RCR education are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Oklahoma , Norman , Oklahoma , USA.
authors.forename: Tyler J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Mulhearn
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Oklahoma , Norman , Oklahoma , USA.
authors.forename: Logan L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Oklahoma , Norman , Oklahoma , USA.
authors.forename: Brett S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Torrence
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Oklahoma , Norman , Oklahoma , USA.
authors.forename: E Michelle
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Oklahoma , Norman , Oklahoma , USA.
authors.forename: Megan R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Oklahoma , Norman , Oklahoma , USA.
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Connelly
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Oklahoma , Norman , Oklahoma , USA.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mumford
mesh_terms: D004738:Engineering; D032984:Ethics, Research; D006801:Humans; D012106:Research; D012108:Research Personnel; D015871:Scientific Misconduct
keywords: Cross field; ethics education; ethics training; field differences; responsible conduct of research