A Question of Motives for Funding Research

Author(s)
Atwood D. Gaines
Parent Collection
Scenarios for Ethics Modules in the Responsible Conduct of Research
Contributors
Caroline Whitbeck
Publisher
Online Ethics Center
Year
2000
DOI
https://doi.org/10.18130/bzwg-x786
Rights
Use of Materials on the OEC
Discipline(s)
Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Life and Environmental Sciences
Public Health
Research Ethics
Topics
Bias in Research
Grant Management
Human Subjects Research
Case Study / Scenario
Description

A scenario meant to stimulate discussion about the ethical issues that arise when the institution funding research has morally suspicious motives.

Body

Tests to study the distribution of a parasitic disorder in an illiterate, non-European immigrant population is called for by a state's Governor for reasons which may be allied with her recent political campaign against immigrants. (The campaign characterized immigrants as a source of disease in the state.) The state offers funding to your research group.

  • How, if at all, does the possible political motive influence your decision about whether to undertake the research and under what conditions?
Notes

Caroline Whitbeck introduced methods and modules for discussing numerous issues in responsible conduct of research at a Sigma Xi Forum in 2000. Partial funding for the development of this material came from an NIH grant.

You can find the entire sequence on the OEC at Scenarios for Ethics Modules in the Responsible Conduct of Research. Some information in these historical modules may be out-of-date; for instance, there may be a new edition of the professional society's code that is referred to in an item. If you have suggestions for updates, please contact the OEC.

Citation
Atwood D. Gaines. . A Question of Motives for Funding Research. Online Ethics Center. DOI:https://doi.org/10.18130/bzwg-x786. https://onlineethics.org/cases/scenarios-ethics-modules-responsible-conduct-research/question-motives-funding-research.