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Integrating Ethics into Graduate Training in the Environmental Sciences

This project aims to develop and test ethics education modules that can be integrated into science curricula, specifically focusing on topics such as responsible conduct of research, objectivity, benefit-cost analysis, and decision-making under uncertainty. The research will assess the impact of embedding ethics training in the curriculum on students' understanding and attitudes towards responsible conduct of research.

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Integrating Ethics into Graduate Training in the Environmental Sciences

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  1. Integrating Ethics into Graduate Training in the Environmental Sciences Michelle Stickler Education Specialist The Pennsylvania State University Funded by the National Science Foundation: # 0529766

  2. Acknowledgements • Research Team: • Donald Brown (case developer) • Ken Davis (case developer) • Klaus Keller (case developer) • Rich Ready (case developer) • Erich Schienke (case/manual developer) • Jim Shortle (case developer) • Nancy Tuana (PI) • IRB approval from PSU

  3. Educational Objective • Develop ethics education modules that can be integrated into science curricula • Geosciences • Agricultural economics • Develop and test at PSU • Make available broadly

  4. Module Topics • RCR • Data analysis • Sustainability • Cost/benefit analysis • Environmental risk-analysis • Decision-making under uncertainty

  5. RCR Module • Introduction to research misconduct • Responsible authorship • Authorship credit and responsibility • When and what to publish • Data sharing • Conflict of interest • In peer review • In expert testimony

  6. Objectivity Module • Ethical question – can research truly be objective • Influences that shape how a problem is defined, studied, and reported • Differences in standards of objectivity

  7. Benefit-Cost Analysis Module • Ethical evaluation of 3 common criteria for evaluating social welfare change • Argument – need for deeper evaluation of benefits and costs

  8. Uncertainty Module • When is it ethical to publish results likely to influence policy when subject to uncertainty • Inherent ethical decisions in treatment of uncertainty • Differences between scientific / policy arenas • Data analysis and dissemination issues

  9. Research Question • Does ethical training embedded within the curriculum correlate with a better understanding and/or attitudes toward RCR than RCR training alone?

  10. Research Groups

  11. Assessments • Principles of RCR • multiple choice knowledge assessment • Attitudes Towards RCR • Scenario based assessment • Identify acceptable vs. unacceptable scenarios on 4 point scale • Qualitative explanation of choice

  12. Progress • Module development - ongoing • Pilot testing of instruments - Spring 2006 • Revisions to instruments – Summer 2006 • 2nd reliability testing – early Fall 2006 • Start of data collection – Fall 2006

  13. Challenges and Limitations • Inconsistency in delivery • Enrolling sufficient number of participants

  14. Summary • Curricular development: ethics / RCR modules embedded in science courses • Research: comparing impact of 1) stand-alone RCR education and 2) RCR and ethics in the curriculum on knowledge and attitudes

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