Integrity in the conduct and reporting of scientific research is a broad subject with many aspects. (Thought-provoking overviews include Buranon and Roy, 1999; Emanuel et al., 2003; Lipson, 2004; Shamoo and Resnik, 2009; and Macrina, 2014.) This chapter includes some essential basic aspects, but we are not legal experts. When you have important legal questions, particularly about such things as trade names, copyrights, and patents, consult a lawyer.

Value ethical concerns

Ethics refers to the choices we make that affect others for good or ill. Obviously, this is an enormous multifaceted topic, the subject of entire religions and philosophies. Literally thousands of publications have been written on the subject of scientific ethics and both proper and improper scientific conduct.

Do they make any difference? Every month, it seems, one can find reports of scientists forging, faking, or plagiarizing their way to success. It is difficult to assess whether scientific dishonesty is on the rise, or simply being reported more widely in our shrinking world. However, it is interesting to note that as a condition of funding, the National Institutes of Health now requires all investigators to receive training in clinical research ethics.

The historical, political, and social contexts of these issues are beyond the scope of this book, but they make interesting reading. Good places to start include LaFollette (1992), Buranen and Roy (1999), and the many references included in both. For an informative examination of how various aspects of scientific integrity are defined, why and how ethical breaches occur, and how they are detected, see D’Angelo (2012).