The Honest Scientist
Virtue Ethics
While reviewing your data you notice a small calculation error that slightly changes one result but does not change the overall conclusion.
Correct the error because an virtuous researcher values accuracy and transparency.
Deontology
A participant signs a consent form but seems confused about what the study involves.
Do not proceed without informed consent. Explain the study design again and get a proper approval from the participant
Consequentialism
A company funds your research and provides expensive equipment. In return, they’re acknowledged publicly. The research quality will significantly improve.
Accept; the increased research quality and potential benefits outweigh minimal risks of bias, especially with transparency.
Consequentialism
A new AI model can optimize training programs better than human coaches without any mistakes.
Adopt it; efficiency and outcomes are improved.
England book/movie series where a scarred wizard makes vases out of clay.
Harry Pottery
Deontology
While preparing a paper, you realize you accidentally used the wrong statistical test in one section but fixing it would delay submission. Your supervisor says, “It’s fine, no one will notice.”
Refuse to submit until the correct method is used. You have a duty to follow proper scientific methods and not knowingly publish flawed work.
Virtue Ethics
During a fitness test, a participant shows signs of pain but insists they want to continue because they don’t want to “mess up your study.”
Prioritize their wellbeing over your study. Research design shouldn't cause any pain or injury to the participants.
Deontology
A sponsor expresses hope for favorable results but makes no formal demands. You can continue as long as you disclose the relationship.
Proceed; but only with full transparency and strict adherence to objectivity. Duty to honesty and disclosure must be upheld regardless of outcomes.
Virtue Ethics
A student athlete you supervise relies heavily on AI guidance, reducing personal decision-making but alleviating stress.
Warn against it; this may undermine personal development of character and growth.
The most recognizable western film featuring Clint Eastwood who becomes a swan after being belittled by his peers.
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly Duckling.
Virtue Ethics
You’re under pressure to publish, and your results are inconclusive. A colleague suggests “tweaking” how you present the data to make it look significant.
Stay honest despite pressure. Demonstrates integrity and moral character under stress.
Consequentialism
You’re designing a study with very high physical strain which can cause potential risks to the participants. The potential benefits are mainly academic (publication), with little direct benefit to participants.
Do not conduct the study, the negative consequences out way the good
Virtue Ethics
The head researcher, who is funding the entire paper, suggest to present mixed results in a way that emphasizes positive findings without technically lying.
Do not do it; a virtuous researcher values honesty and integrity over reputation or success, avoiding even subtle manipulation.
Deontology
Gene editing could prevent injuries but is not yet regulated, a gene edited athlete has recently undergone procedure and wishes to participate in a sporting even you are responsible for.
Do not allow participation; lack of rules and regulations accounting for genetic editing violates ethical duty and may bring personal harm to athlete or others.
Classic AC/DC tune that signals the return of many discounts in different stores.
Back in Black Friday
Consequentialism
You’re a junior researcher on a temporary contract. You find out that your supervisor has told you to include his colleague as one of the authors on a paper you have been working on. However, this colleague has not participated in the creation of this paper in any capacity as far as you know. You worry that you will be at risk of losing your current contract if you create any issues.
Stay silent; you will include him as an author if it means you can stay and continue doing relevant research
Speak up; because you think including him as an author will be misleading and give undeserved credit to someone who did nothing
Consequentialism
Your colleague has collected very insightful data including minors but has not obtained proper parental consent before starting the tests. His paper is about to be published and only you know that the parental consent wasn’t conducted properly.
Report it; obtaining information without proper consent from the parents is wrong and can lead to severely damaging the researcher’s reputation
Stay quiet; there was no harm done and the end result can bring valuable information
Deontology
Your research is funded by a private sponsor. You discover a minor methodological flaw that slightly weakens your conclusions but does not invalidate them. Fixing it would delay publication and violate your funding deadline agreement but wouldn't necessarily change your results.
Correct and disclose the flaw, even if it breaks the deadline agreement; duty to truth and accuracy overrides contractual or practical obligations.
Virtue Ethics
A recent study has developed a state-of-the-art bodybuilding drug that drastically limits side-effects and has staggeringly positive results on physique. You have the opportunity to enter the next round of human testing before public distribution. Entering the study would certainly benefit your physique but would remove the need for discipline and effort in training.
Reject or limit; virtue emphasizes growth through effort, not shortcuts despite how effective they may be.
Film about a nightguard for the American Natural History Exhibits that come to life and connect the A and C lines in Prague.
Night at the Muzeum
Consequentialism
You discovered that a well esteemed colleague selectively removed data points that didn’t support his hypothesis, making the results look stronger. They only made minor changes and argue it was only “cleaning the data.” Your colleague has been working on this project for several years, has sacrificed many things and the project could bring very valuable and relevant information to the field.
Address it and expose misinformation. Misleading results could harm future research and applications, so preventing that leads to better outcomes overall.
Stay silent as it is only minor changes and the overall outcome could bring important information and also help your friend keep his career
Deontology
Your study involves elite athletes, and the coach pressures players to participate, even though participation is supposed to be voluntary. Some athletes seem hesitant but agree anyway.
Conduct the study; they signed the form therefore it is following the rules of proper research
Do not conduct the study; even if they signed the form it does not mean that they want to participate. It is our duty as researchers to keep all participation voluntarily
Consequentialism
A powerful sponsor funds your research with no formal control, but you know that publishing negative results will likely cause them to withdraw funding, not just from you, but from similar research in the future.
If you slightly soften your conclusions, funding (and future research) will continue.
Publish truthfully; might lead to misleading research in the future.
Soften conclusions; undermining integrity will allow for more funding and research in the future.
Consequentialism
Genetic enhancement can eliminate injuries, improve results and even extend careers but creates inequality between enhanced and non-enhanced athletes. The Olympic board has approached you on the decision to either allow enhanced athletes to participate or not.
Allow enhanced; reduces injuries, extends careers, raises overall human performance.
A declaration of personal income made annually to the authorities that's used as a formal agreement that athletes sign before participating in a survey.
Tax Form of Consent