PHI 735 – Spring 2012

Short Writing Assignment #1 - Professional Codes

This assignment is due Tues., 1/24 in class. Suggested length is 2-3 pages typed.  Find a professional code of ethics (preferably one from an organization in your own discipline), and compare it with the Federal Research Misconduct Policy (Sections I and II) by answering the following questions. (Several codes are available from the class website, as is the federal policy.  If you're writing on a code not linked from our website, please include a copy of it with your assignment.)

a. Why (do you suppose) the Federal Policy addresses only misconduct in the narrow, FF&P sense?

b. What issues beyond FF&P does your code cover, and why? Are there issues that your code does not address but should, in your view?  If so, why do you suppose your code does not address them?

c. How would you describe the primary purpose or function of your code? Is it, for example, primarily a set of rules (like the Federal Policy) to be enforced, a set of ideals or aspirations, a document aimed at informing researchers of existing standards, or something different still?

d. Why should your code be taken seriously? Does it have authority only for those members of the professional society in question, or for all practitioners of the discipline? Do you consider this authority to be moral or ethical authority?