Class Syllabus

Requirements

• View the Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship - Presentation given to department chairs by professor Michael Hadjiargyrou 2010.06.08_hadjiargyrou.pdf
• Complete a relevant RCR module, and achieve a 80% or higher quiz grade, within the web-based Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative located at http://www.citiprogram.org
• Following the schedule below and prior to coming to each class: (i) view the appropriate online lecture, (ii) read additional accompanying materials, and (iii) come prepared for the days discussion topics

• Peter Williams GRD 500 Lecture

Readings (Nature articles)

• Article 1
• Article 2
• Article 3

Discussion

• Why is the class important?
• How should we behave as scientists?
• How is science a social enterprise?

• Michael Hadjiargyrou GRD 500 Lecture

Reading

• Introduction and Case Study 1 Sections from Columbia University online RCR Website: Research Misconduct

Discussion

• From Case Study 1: Was it appropriate for Dr. Chan to promise Samantha second authorship based on performing some assays?
• From Case Study 1: It seems clear that there is a problem with Samantha's data. What should Julio do now?
• How can the pressure to publish influence the conduct of research?

• Clinton Rubin GRD 500 Lecture

Readings

• Read Introduction and Case Study 1 Sections from Columbia University online RCR Website: Mentoring

Discussion

• What qualities do you want in a mentor?
• What are the challenges associated with being a mentor?
• What does Professor Rubin mean when he says it is very important not to burn bridges?

• Peter Gergen GRD 500 Lecture

Readings

• Read Introduction and Case Study 1 Sections from Columbia University online RCR Website: Responsible Authorship and Peer Review

Discussion (also from the above Columbia course)

• Is it ever appropriate for authorship to change during a project or potential paper?
• Describe methods/techniques you can use to be sure you are properly citing the work of others in the context of writing a paper?

• Richard Clark GRD 500 Lecture

Readings

• Stony Brook's Policy on Academic Dishonesty
• Plagiarism Slides

Discussion

• Is plagiarism really that bad?
• If you copy a paragraph from another sources and modify it by say 10% is that enough to not be plagiarism ? What about 20%, or 30%, or 51% ? At what percentage is it no longer plagiarism? How many words do you need to change?

• Stefan Judex GRD 500 Lecture

Readings

• Read Introduction and Case Study 1 and 2 Sections from Columbia University online RCR Website: Data Acquisition and Management

Discussion

• From Case Study 1: Why shouldn't Renee be able to use the samples since she is not studying any disease associated with the samples?
• From Case Study 2: Under what condition is copying allowed?
• Discuss ways to keep good records so that future researchers will be able to (A) reproduce your work and (B) re-analyze your results. Include in your discussion how you you will be able to share "raw" results.

• Howard Schneider GRD 500 Lecture

Readings (3 Case Studies)

• Scientist and Reporters handout

Discussion

• From Case Study 1: A reporter from a major newspaper is scheduled to do a story on a drug which you think might be causing premature death among second generation mice. Do you call the reporter and disclose your concerns? Why?
• From Case Study 2: Your adviser says that any disclosure of her secrete research o Anthrax would be illegal? What do you do? Why?
• From Case Study 3: What do you do when you find out that there might be an undercover reporter working secretly to uncover the truth in an apparently poorly hospital which might violate patients privacy?

• Judy Matuk GRD 500Lecture

Readings: (Background Information, Case Studies, Helsinki manuscript)

• Human Subjects handout
• Helsinki manuscript

Discussion

• From Human Subjects handout, Background History: Why does the Helsinki Declaration limit the use of Placebo's?
• From Human Subjects handout, Case Study 1: Was this an ethical trial? If so, why? If not, why not?
• From Helsinki manuscript: Do you agree with the authors that placebo-controlled trails are in many cases necessary ? Why ?

* This will not be covered in AMS 500

Responsible Conduct of Research Involving Laboratory Animals

• Tom Zimmerman GRD 500 Lecture

Readings (Case Studies)

• Animal Subjects handout

Discussion

• From Case Study 1: What are some of the troublesome issues associated with this set of experiments?
• From Case Study 1: Does giving an animal a fatal infection constitute cruelty, especially considering the characteristics of HIV infection in humans?
• From Case Study 1: Is it ethically appropriate to transmit intentionally a human virus in a setting that is not fully controlled?
• From Case Study 1: If Edith were to respond that the study could not be carried out in chimpanzees, how might it be designed instead for human subjects?