Scientific Honesty

C.  Scientific honesty

            “The essence of science is the pursuit and transmission of knowledge, an endeavor that depends upon honesty, objectivity, intellectual freed, and trust over generations, across disciplines, and across national borders.  As every researcher depends on the validity of others’ previous work, and because no single individual can master every dimension of any field, the practical demands of science reinforce an inherently moral social contract among researchers” ---from “The Ethical Dimensions of the Biological Sciences”.

Source:  Bulger, RE, Heitman E., Reiser SJ.1993, The Ethical Dimensions of Biological Sciences, Cambridge University Press.

Carrying out academic honesty means:

ü      Keep an open, objective mind while carrying out experiments

ü      Keep dated, accurate records of your experiments in pen

ü      Cross off errors in notebook calculations rather than erasing, whiting out or obliterating them

ü      Carry out your own experiments without bias to an expected outcome

ü      Carry out replicate experiments when time permits

ü      Report your findings without embellishing, altering or ignoring data you have collected

ü      Make your own graphs, data tables, and interpretations

ü      Cite appropriately any published materials such as handbook information, journal articles, web sites or textbooks that were used to aid with your data interpretation

ü      Formally acknowledge and state the identities of those who have provided ideas that have aided in your interpretations

Source: http://www.cofc.edu/~chem/advising/integrity.html