University Ziane Achour, Djelfa Master Two Students
Faculty of Letters and Languages Literature and Civilization
Department of Foreign Languages Ethics and Deontology
English Division All Groups
Course Tutor: Dr. Ouafa Ouarniki E-mail:
[email protected]Week 3: Codes of Ethics in Academia and Research
Objective: The objective of this lecture is to educate students on the ethical standards and
principles in academia and research, including key codes of ethics, research integrity, and
plagiarism prevention. Through case studies and practical analysis, students will understand the
importance of maintaining integrity in their scholarly work.
1. Overview of Key Academic Codes of Ethics (APA and MLA)
APA Code of Ethics:
Definition: The American Psychological Association (APA) Code of Ethics provides
comprehensive guidelines on ethical research conduct, authorship, and the transparent
presentation of findings. Initially developed for psychology, it has expanded to apply broadly
within the social sciences.
Core Tenets:
Authorship: APA specifies that authorship should be limited to those who significantly
contributed to a work. Ghost authorship (where contributors are not credited) and honorary
authorship (where people are credited without contribution) are both considered unethical.
* Confidentiality: Researchers must protect the privacy of participants by anonymizing
sensitive data, securing records, and sharing results only with informed consent.
* Conflicts of Interest: Disclosure of any financial or personal interests that may influence the
research outcomes is mandatory.
* Example: If a researcher is funded by a pharmaceutical company to study a drug's
effectiveness, they must disclose this funding to avoid potential bias in their analysis.
MLA Code of Ethics:
Definition: The Modern Language Association (MLA) provides ethical guidelines primarily
for scholars in the humanities, with a focus on originality, respect for intellectual property, and
proper source attribution.
Core Tenets:
* Source Attribution: MLA emphasizes the importance of giving proper credit to the original
ideas, words, and creations of others to prevent misrepresentation of intellectual property.
* Integrity in Analysis: Researchers are expected to accurately interpret, represent, and critique
sources, ensuring they do not distort or misinterpret authors' original meanings.
* Example: In literary analysis, properly crediting a passage from a novel or critical essay
ensures that the original creator’s work is respected, and any analysis is transparently grounded
in the cited source.
2. Principles of Research Integrity
Honesty:
Definition: Honesty in research refers to the truthful reporting of all aspects of the research
process, including data collection, analysis, and conclusions. Honest reporting prevents the
spread of misinformation and promotes reliability in academic findings.
Application: Researchers must not fabricate or falsify data, and they should report all results,
even those that are unexpected or unfavorable.
Example: A study on medication efficacy must include all trial results, even if some findings
show no effect, to avoid misrepresenting the medication’s impact.
Objectivity:
Definition: Objectivity requires researchers to approach their study without personal biases or
vested interests that could compromise the neutrality of their findings.
Application: Researchers should avoid letting personal opinions or external pressures influence
the outcomes of their work. This includes refraining from manipulating data to favor a
hypothesis or desired conclusion.
Example: In a psychological study on behavior, objectivity would mean interpreting the data
based on observable results rather than assumptions about participant motivations.
Transparency:
Definition: Transparency in research involves openly sharing methodology, data sources, and
any conflicts of interest, allowing others to verify and replicate the research.
Application: Transparency is critical for peer review and reproducibility, enhancing the
trustworthiness of academic work.
Example: In a research article, a transparent methodology section would detail how data was
collected, any statistical tools used, and specific participant demographics, so others could
reproduce the study accurately.
3. Plagiarism: Definition, Types, and Prevention
Definition of Plagiarism:
Comprehensive Definition: Plagiarism is the unauthorized use or presentation of another
person’s ideas, words, or work as one’s own, without proper attribution. This is a violation of
academic integrity and an infringement on intellectual property rights.
Types of Plagiarism:
* Direct Plagiarism: Copying text verbatim without using quotation marks or crediting the
source.
* Self-Plagiarism: Reusing one’s previously published work without acknowledgment, often
considered unethical as it presents the material as new and original.
* Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rewriting someone else's ideas in different words without giving
credit to the original source.
* Accidental Plagiarism: Inadvertent failure to cite sources correctly due to oversight or
misunderstanding, though still considered a breach of academic ethics.
Prevention Strategies:
* Proper Citation: Use citation management tools like Zotero or EndNote, and familiarize
yourself with citation guidelines to ensure all sources are credited.
* Original Analysis: Focus on creating unique interpretations rather than simply rephrasing
existing work.
* Class Activity: Text samples will be provided where plagiarism has occurred in different
forms, and students will be asked to identify and correct the issues.
Sample 1: Direct Plagiarism
Original Source: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."
Plagiarized Text: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
(Directly copied without quotation marks or citation)
Sample 2: Paraphrasing Plagiarism
Original Source: "Global warming is causing severe weather changes, including increased
hurricane activity."
Plagiarized Text: Climate change is leading to extreme weather patterns, such as a rise in
hurricane occurrences.
(The idea is paraphrased but the original source is not credited.)
Sample 3: Self-Plagiarism
Original Source (from a previous paper): "The study revealed that urban areas are
experiencing higher temperatures due to the urban heat island effect."
Plagiarized Text: The study showed that urban areas have increased temperatures due to the
urban heat island effect.
(The same work is reused without acknowledgment, presenting it as new.)
Sample 4: Accidental Plagiarism
Original Source: "The mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell, generating the
energy necessary for cellular functions."
Plagiarized Text: The mitochondria are referred to as the powerhouse of the cell, creating
energy needed for cellular functions.
(The phrasing is too close to the original without proper citation, even if unintended.)
Sample 5: Mosaic Plagiarism
Original Source: "The research showed that sleep deprivation negatively impacts cognitive
performance and overall health."
Plagiarized Text: Research indicates that lack of sleep adversely affects brain function and
health overall.
(Combines phrases from the original with slight alterations without citation, constituting
mosaic plagiarism.)
4. Case Studies: Famous Cases of Academic Misconduct and Their Implications
Case Study 1: Dr. Andrew Wakefield and the MMR Vaccine Controversy
Overview: Wakefield’s 1998 paper falsely linked the MMR vaccine to autism. This study was
later found to involve manipulated data and unethical practices, leading to a public health crisis
and Wakefield losing his medical license.
Implications: His actions fueled vaccine hesitancy, leading to outbreaks of preventable
diseases, and severely impacted public trust in medical research.
Case Study 2: Marc Hauser’s Misconduct in Psychology Research
Overview: Harvard professor Marc Hauser was found to have fabricated data in his research
on primate cognition, leading to a retraction of multiple published works and ending his career.
Implications: This case highlighted issues in data integrity and peer review processes,
prompting calls for greater transparency in research practices.
Case Study 3: AI and Data Ethics Issues:
Overview: Ethical issues have arisen with AI research, such as biased data leading to
discriminatory algorithmic decisions.
Implications: Bias in AI research affects societal fairness, and ethical lapses can lead to
widespread repercussions, such as flawed decision-making in employment or criminal justice.
5. Workshop: Analyzing the Code of Ethics of a Specific Academic Journal
Activity :
* Group Assignment: Each group selects an academic journal and reviews its code of ethics,
focusing on aspects such as authorship, data transparency, peer review, and conflict of interest
policies.
* Group Discussion: Each group presents their findings, discussing unique elements and the
reasons behind certain ethical guidelines.
* Reflection: Students should reflect on how ethical guidelines vary across journals and
disciplines, considering how they might apply these standards to their future work.
