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Ensure ethical practices in all aspects of research including intellectual property, data management, confidentiality, and collegiality. Demonstrate ethical behaviour: integrity, honesty, and accountability. Learn from mistakes. Practice sustainability and act responsibly with the interests of the larger community and its future in mind.

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Jump to section:听Understanding Ethical & Professional Conduct | Cultivating Ethical & Professional Conduct听| Quick Guide to Ethical & Professional Conduct听|听Taking Action | Resources | References

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Understanding Ethical & Professional Conduct

Ethical behaviour is a way of acting according to a set of values dictated by society or by individuals. Ethical and professional conduct is the collection of ethical behaviours in a business context (including academia), where individuals are expected to respect key moral principles such as honesty and fairness, and to abide by the ethical codes and standards of an organization or a profession.听^[]听(e.g., the American Medical Association imposes a Code of Ethics on physicians regarding interpersonal relationships with staff and patients.听^[]听

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Why does it matter?

Whether you are a graduate student, an employee, or self-employed, ethical and professional norms govern your decision making. ^[] At an organizational level, ethical behaviour improves the working environment and reassures all stakeholders of proper management of all operations.听^[] The Enron Corporation scandal in 2001 demonstrates how detrimental ethical misconduct can be,^[]听as it resulted in the largest bankruptcy in US history at the time ($63.4 billion in assets).听听

Ethics and moral principles go beyond the professional setting to influence the three pillars of sustainability: society, economy, and environment.^[]听The Federal Sustainable Development Act defines sustainable development as meeting 鈥渢he needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.鈥澨�^[]听Conforming to ethical practices is key in shaping our social behaviours, economic decisions, and environmental awareness, thus affecting the sustainable development of Canadian and global communities.听^[][]听
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Cultivating Ethical & Professional Conduct

1. Associations and organizations often include penalties and/or sanctions in the case of violation.听^[] Read the code of conduct at your organization and discuss with your new colleagues or supervisor when unsure about how to proceed in a given situation. At 91社区, you can consult the听Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures.听听
2. When rules are not available, individuals turn to their own moral compass. One would start by identifying a value, such as 鈥渃ourage and integrity鈥� which defines a particular attitude, such as 鈥渢he courage to do the right things consistently without regard to personal consequences,鈥� which then results in an ethical behavior, such as to make 鈥渦npopular decisions based on fair consideration of the facts.鈥澨�^[]听
3. To explore an ethical dilemma and decide on the best decision, consider the following steps from the听Markkula Center for Applied Ethics 2009:

   
   Utilitarian Approach: Which option produces the most good and the least harm?

   The Rights Approach: Which option respects the rights of everyone involved?

   The Justice Approach: Which options treat people equally or proportionally?

   The Common Good Approach: What best serves the community as a whole?

   The Virtue Approach: Which action best represents your personal values?
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4. 听Make and test a decision: Choose the best approach and ask someone for feedback.
5. Act and reflect on the outcome: Think about how to implement your decision by taking into account others鈥� concerns. Reflect on the impact of your choices and the lessons you have learned from this dilemma.听

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Quick Guide

1. Know and comply with codes, rules, policies, and legal guidelines relevant to you/your position (e.g. intellectual property rules: copyrights and patents) ^[]听
2. Recognize and respect the role and contributions of others (e.g. authorship, data ownership) ^[]听
3. Implement sustainability practices: ensure environmental integrity, social equity, and economic efficiency through innovative approaches ^[]听
4. Sets expectations of and ensure adherence to ethical codes ^[]听
5. Be proactive and socially responsible and advise colleagues and take initiatives in shaping new or existing policies ^[]听
6. Exercise self-criticism, make situational ethical judgements, and challenge unethical behaviours of others ^[]听

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Taking action

Resources

Websites

• 鈥� Knowledge Centre:听 includes blogs by experts, glossary terms, list of events and others.听
• 听鈥� Santa Clara University: this website offers articles, approaches to ethical decision making, and good practical guidelines.听听
• 91社区 Research and Innovation 鈥� Ethics and Compliance: Guidelines for researchers working with animals and human participants.听听
• Integrity and Ethical Practice:听GPS Guided Research听Practice.听
• 91社区 Research Integrity: Guidelines on the conduct of research activities at 91社区.听
• 91社区 Office of Sustainability: Sustainability strategy, goals and activities at 91社区.听听
• 听鈥� Santa Clara University.听
• 91社区 Keeping it Honest: provides resources to help students avoid dishonest work听
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Groups & Associations听

• : A grassroots organization with professionals sharing best practices on research ethics.听
• : A research group seeks to publish innovative and thought-provoking reflections on issues related to humanitarian healthcare ethics.听
• : A Tri-Council Interagency Advisory Panel aims to collaborate and promote the ethical conduct of research involving human participants.听听
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Books, Articles & Reports

• Swanson, D., (2004). The buck stops here: why universities must reclaim business ethics education.
• Danis, M. (2012). Clinical research consultation: A casebook. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• In Woodfield, K. (2018). The ethics of online research.
• Macfarlane, B. (2009). Researching with integrity: The ethics of academic enquiry. New York:
• Routledge.
• Oliver, P. (2010). The Student's Guide to Research Ethics. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill International (UK)
• Ltd.
• Russell, C., Hogan, L., & Junker-Kenny, M. (2013). Ethics for graduate researchers: A cross-disciplinary approach. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
• Stewart, C. N. (2011). Research ethics for scientists: A companion for students. Chicester: John Wiley & Sons.

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References