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Field and Experience Influences on Ethical Decision-Making in the Sciences
Michael D Mumford1, Shane Connelly, Stephen T Murphy
1The University of Oklahoma.
Ethics & Behavior
|September 15, 2009
Summary
Doctoral students in biological and social sciences show better ethical decision-making than health sciences students. Health science students’ ethical decision-making declines with more experience, linked to reasoning strategies.
Area of Science:
- Scientific research ethics
- Doctoral student training
- Interdisciplinary science studies
Background:
- Ethical decision-making (EDM) varies by academic field and experience.
- Understanding these differences is crucial for scientific integrity.
- Doctoral students are key stakeholders in research ethics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how academic field and experience influence EDM in doctoral students.
- To investigate the role of metacognitive strategies and social-behavioral responses.
- To explore the relationship between exposure to unethical events and EDM.
Main Methods:
- Doctoral students from health, biological, and social sciences completed EDM measures.
- Analysis focused on the impact of field and experience level.
- Metacognitive reasoning, social-behavioral responses, and unethical event exposure were assessed.
Main Results:
- Social and biological scientists demonstrated superior EDM compared to health scientists.
- Health science students' EDM decreased with increased experience.
- These variations were associated with underlying ethical decision-making strategies.
Conclusions:
- Academic field and experience significantly impact doctoral students' ethical decision-making.
- Specific reasoning strategies mediate these effects.
- Findings have implications for ethics training in scientific disciplines.
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