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Scientific research and the public trust.
1National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Box 12233, Mail Drop CU 03, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. resnikd@niehs.nih.gov
Science and Engineering Ethics
|August 31, 2010
Summary
Public trust in science is complex. To effectively use this concept for research ethics, clearly define the specific public, their expectations, and how policies meet these needs.
Area of Science:
- Science and Society
- Research Ethics
Background:
- Public trust is often invoked to justify ethical rules in scientific research.
- The abstract notion of public trust may lack the specificity needed for practical policy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the concept of public trust in science.
- To provide guidance for ethicists, scientists, and policymakers on using public trust arguments effectively.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of the term "public trust in science."
- Examination of how public trust is used to support research ethics policies.
Main Results:
- The "public" is not a monolithic entity with uniform interests.
- Arguments relying on public trust must specify the particular public, their expectations, and the mechanisms for meeting them.
Conclusions:
- To effectively leverage public trust for research policy, arguments must be precise.
- Specificity regarding the public, their expectations, and policy alignment is crucial for robust ethical frameworks.
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