As you know, scientific research must be conducted in accordance with ethical principles. The ethical principles of research are defined in:

Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct
Standard 8: Research and Publication
http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx

The National Academy Of Sciences, National Academy Of Engineering, and Institute Of Medicine Of The National Academies have a more detailed and comprehensive set of ethical guidelines for scientific research:

Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (U.S.), National Academy of Sciences (U.S.), National Academy of Engineering., & Institute of Medicine (U.S.). (2009) On being a scientist: A guide to responsible conduct in research, (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C: National Academies Press.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12192

Write a paper in which you discuss how you will ensure that all aspects of your doctoral research, from literature review to conducting research, to writing the dissertation manuscript will be done with care and integrity and will meet the ethical standards of scientific research. Reference the two publications above and at least five additional peer-reviewed articles.

You must justify all the steps you will take to ensure the ethical integrity of your dissertation project and not simply describe standard practice. You must show that you have your own clear set of ethical principles and that you know how to apply them to your work. You must do more than just paraphrase ethical guidelines. You must explain specifically how you will apply published ethical guidelines and concepts to what you will do in your research (as you envision it at this point).

Be sure to address the following:

• Plagiarism

• Risk assessment

• Informed consent

• Privacy and confidentiality

• Data handling and reporting

• Mistakes and negligence

• Working with a Mentor

• Northcentral University requirements for IRB approval

Conclude your paper with your thoughts on the following statement:

Ethical scientific researchers have a commitment to all who are touched by their research—participants who share their lives and time, mentors and advisors, reviewers, future readers, and supporters and cheerleaders on the journey—to take care and do their work well.

As you answer this question, note that it is very important to adopt and discuss a clear set of ethical principles and then also apply them in your answers. For example, it is not sufficient to say that you will avoid plagiarism. It is needed state what plagiarism is and how it can occur and how it can be avoided. It is also needed to state how you will apply ethical principles to the approach that you have adopted toward plagiarism. For example, consider the case of using the APA’s set of ethical principles and standards. What APA general principles and what specific APA ethical standards that you have adopted, relate to how you approach plagiarism? Which of the principles or standards does plagiarism violate and why? One of the APA stated general principles that would be violated by plagiarism is the “Integrity” principle. Why does plagiarism violate this principle and how would this affect you and others?

The structure of your paper should be as follows:

Title page

Body (10-15 pages, no more or less; APA Style; use appropriate headings for organization of the paper)

References (APA Style)

Learning Outcomes:
4. Integrate knowledge of ethical practices with principles of professional practice as it applies to specific scenarios within the student’s academic discipline and specialization.