The ethics of scientific research is somewhat unique within professional ethics in the sense that good
science requires the ethical practice of science (this is discussed in more detail in Section 4).
Nevertheless, a course in research ethics cannot and should not have as its central focus the question,
“Why should I be moral?” This question, while important, is not specific to the field of scientific
research. A course in research ethics, as envisioned by the Dartmouth team, must be a course that
teaches the tools for making ethical decisions relative to matters of research. It will be designed for those
scientists who are already committed to being ethical researchers. Such a course should provide students
the answers to the question, “How can I make moral decisions?”
Although it is the fabricators and the plagiarizers whom we most often think of when we think of
research misconduct, these are not the only people accused of misconduct. They are also not the only
people who are guilty of misconduct. Many other scientists have had lives and careers affected by
misconduct cases.