Experimental ethics

Research ethics involves the application of fundamental ethical principles to a variety of topics involving scientific research. These include the design and implementation of research involving human participants (human experimentation); animal experimentation; various aspects of academic scandal, including scientific misconduct, such as fraud, fabrication (science) of data and plagiarism; whistleblowing; regulation of research (such as regulation of research on stem cells), and more.

Research ethics is most developed as a concept in medical research. The key agreement here is the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki.

External Resources about Research Ethics
A useful Research Ethics Training Curriculum has been prepared by Family Health International (FHI). Its focus is on human experimentation. The References section includes references to some of the major documents of research ethics, such as the Belmont Report, the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki and the CIOMS 1993 International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects.

The Research Ethics section of the SHiPS (Sociology, History and Philosophy of Science) website provides some useful resources, including case studies relevant to scientific misconduct.

Other External Links

 * Scientists for Global Responsibility (UK)
 * INES Global
 * UNESCO - Ethics of Science and Technology
 * Ethical Practice: Principles and Guidelines for Research with Vulnerable Individuals and Families An ethical protocol for social science research developed by the Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System