Ethical Principles and Mediation

¶ … ethical quandary revolves around research ethics. Numerous reasons may be cited to explain the significance of complying with ethical standards when conducting research. Firstly, standards support research objectives like error avoidance, knowledge, and truth. For instance, the forbidding of research data fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation facilitates error minimization and promotion of true facts (Resnik). Secondly, as studies typically require significant coordination and collaboration between a number of individuals belonging to diverse organizations and areas of expertise, ethical norms support key values like trust, justice, answerability, and mutual respect. For instance, authorship guidelines, patenting and copyright policies, peer review-related confidentiality laws, policies of data sharing and other research-linked ethical principles help safeguard intellectual property and simultaneously encourage collaboration. A majority of scholars wish for acknowledgement for their individual contribution to a field and dislike having their research ideas released early to the world, or stolen. Thirdly, a number of ethical principles aid in ensuring research authors may be answerable to people. Bob's approach left considerable grounds for falsification in reporting as he failed to stick to proper guidelines the way Mary did.

1. Standard 8 (Research & Publication) provides the relevant American Psychological Association ethical rule -- 8.10 (Research Result Reporting) -- for the given case. A psychologist doesn't fake information, and if he/she finds any major errors in his/her published work, reasonable steps are taken to rectify these errors using means such as correction, erratum, retraction, etc. (Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct). This is applicable to Dr. Smith and Bob's case as well.

1. Bob Jones, Mary Drew, and, to some extent, Dr. Smith, must arrive at a resolution, in this case (Writer Thoughts).

1. Consideration is due in this case, because of the potential implications if the research work was examined and found falsified or flawed. The authors' reputations within scientific/scholarly circles would be tarnished, and major legal action could be initiated against them (Writer Thoughts). In case of Mary, consideration is due because her choice will have huge ramifications for her, irrespective of whether they're bad or good.

1. It may suffice to possess sound conflict resolution ability. Scientists' are normally weak in the area of resolving conflicts; however, a few elementary principles can work wonders. Timely tackling of issues, identification of areas where agreement occurs, addressing the areas of conflict, a focus on the issue and not the individual, and explicit communication regarding what individual parties hold as most important are valuable steps to follow (Research Misconduct - Office of Research Integrity). Further, respected third parties may act as mediators. Mediation aims at clarifying problems by allowing compromise or maximum possible agreement between the conflicting entities. In the event of failure of alternate communication avenues, conflicting parties may be encouraged to seek an arbitrator's services and reach a binding arbitrator decision. Some organizations establish formal arbitration, conflict resolution, or mediation procedures, without which a certain amount of creativity would be needed for solving disputes.

1. Inquiry refers to an examination of whether an accusation is supported by evidence or whether it requires investigation. Investigation represents an official compilation of facts and their examination, ending in case dismissal or remedies like a recommendation to find research misconduct (Columbia - CTL - Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning). The adjudication stage involves review of recommendations and determination of sanctions and other corrective action. Dr. Smith and Bob may face sanctions. But in order to settle the conflict such that no party is faced with unnecessary troubles, the above alternatives must be the last resort.