Essay Sample on Scientific Communication Ethics

Scientific communication is described as part of the information science and sociology of biology that studies how researchers use informal and formal information channels, the communicative roles of these researchers as well as how they utilise the formal publication systems. Scientific communication aims to communicate precise and accurate information regarding the new scientific knowledge hence links it to experimental methods (Wong-Parodi & Strauss, 2014). Since science is a source of experience, it is usually created and developed through scientific study. Just like any other human work and activity, this research should be generated based on trust and honesty. This development should include the consistent application of best available procedures that can provide new knowledge to the public. Scientists should also ensure that all the established hypotheses and assumptions have scientific evidence that supports them (Donev, 2013).

Ethical issues usually arise when scientist communicate to the policymakers as well as the attentive public (Berger, 1994). Therefore, a scientist should decide on the efficient way of expressing knowledge so that nonscientist can understand and put into practice. While doing that they should ensure they remain honest to their duties as they present the estimates of the uncertainty that exists in their inferences. While communicating with the audiences, scientists should understand their ethical choices as they use scientific information during communication (Donev, 2013). Like in the Fourth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change moral issues were salient following the possible rise in sea level from the crumbling of Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets. The then existed uncertainty led to an incomplete report on values of projected sea levels, and that made many audiences to underestimate future risks. Therefore, scientists should make principled judgements that do not give false information to the public (Donev, 2013). Since everyone cannot become scientists, the few that are present should ensure that the rest of the population receives the best information.

Every aspect of science usually affects everyones life therefore many people may choose not to do science but can never ignore the impacts of its results (Donev, 2013). With that in mind, scientists should always remember the effect of their work on the entire global population. Whenever an author decides to publish a scientific journal the motives are usually clear (Donev, 2013). The first reason has a critical thing to say to the readers or wants to improve practice. The other purposes may include allowing examination of his/her work, promoting a debate and others do it for money or fame. Since ones objective of preparing and publishing an article, there are various things that one need to question before starting the writing of the paper. Some of this questions include what is the message he/she wants to pass, who are the audiences, how will the message be delivered, where will the news be published and how will it impact on the viewers? (Berger, 1994). Editors usually expect exciting new ideas from the papers submitted by the authors. The article should outline the significance of the issue, sources of data used in the research, relevance of the journal audiences. The report should also be written in an accurate, precise and engaging manner.

For the authors of the scientific journals, they require full dedication and honesty while carrying out research as well as writing these papers following the social norms and the significance of these activities. Both scientists and the general public expect honesty and fairness from researchers since the two features provide meaning and sense to science (Donev, 2013). Currently, the public can easily access scientific paper from electronic databases, and even scientists have the chance to exchange information hence use the results as the most important form of cooperation in science. These electronic databases and subsequent publications that contains references like Medline, web of science among others do allow quick retrieval of relevant scientific resources using keywords. For those unavailable and inaccessible scientific contents in these databases remain unrecognisable to the entire scientific community. Scientific research especially biomedical usually has a direct impact on human beings what makes necessary for a scientist to demonstrate honesty in their work and also comply with principles of research integrity. The whole science keeps on growing, and it belongs to all humans hence every new scientific discovery tends to complement as well as build it. Since it is the exact source of discoveries for humanity, it usually contributes to the entire wellbeing of the people and also offer security and equality in everyday life.

Being an author and contributor to an article is a compassionate role since it is all about credit and responsibility (Berger, 1994). Grants usually demand or depend on the publication of the results. Several unethical issues have been experienced in the recent past on various scientific studies. Some of the misconducts that occasionally occur are plagiarised ideas or results, falsification of data, duplicated publications, ghostwriting, conflict of interest and manipulation of authors (Donev, 2013). Editors usually try all they can to eliminate all these misconduct whenever they are detected in any scientific journal or paper just to ensure its credibility. They are strongly encouraged to develop and implement a policy that governs the roles of contributors of an article as well as that that help the responsibility and integrity of the entire work.

In the contemporary society, scientific research seems to attract the public more than before. The rapid technological advancement that has occurred in the last few years has prompted the increased application of scientific discoveries by many people in their daily lives. An experimental study in the areas like biomedicine that usually have a direct effect on health and human beings has also gone up (Wong-Parodi & Strauss, 2014). In as much as most studies cannot be applied directly in everyday life, they will still be the basis that people have to use in building their lives. These reports are also used to encourage future research and results that may have a direct impact on peoples daily lives (Berger, 1994). Due to all these, it is necessary for a scientist to ensure their work is honest and of high integrity since its the basis of science. Since credibility and reliability of scientific articles and reports are of great importance to human beings existence, detailed review of all published scientific papers is necessary. It will enable the editors to consolidate all results in guidelines to ensure all the research work meet the requirements (Donev, 2013). People have lost confidence in the scientific researchers, research as well as institutions that carry out these studies following the fraud and false results that emerge frequently. These fraudulent acts can impact negatively on health policy, judicial decisions and even future research work hence affect human lives. With undermined confidence, there would be none or little adoption of significant scientific information and creation of public resistance to support expenses in science. To avoid all these, honesty and truthfulness is the key to everything. It is the only way scientist can win the confidence of the public and make them believe in their studies once again.

Scientific publications are usually deposited in the permanent bases of textual data that can help in detecting wicked scientist (Berger, 1994). Once a false scientist has revealed all the paper he/she once published and results will be questionable what makes the researcher lose respect trust hence get excluded from scientific society. Increased advancement in science, as well as growing number of scientists and experimental publication cases of fraud and abuse, has gone higher. Three decades ago, fraud in scientific research became public with many arguments coming from the U.S. It was then realized that these scientific misconduct mostly originated from within the academic institutions. Due to that, an Office of Research Integrity (ORI) was established the US government with the aim of promoting honesty and integrity in research work (Berger, 1994). ORI was also charged with the task of developing guidelines and recommendation for education in scientific integrity and reliability as well as conducting procedures and charges for any experimental violation by the authors (Donev, 2013). The establishment of ORI has helped in improving the credibility of scientific research in the US. Its creation also motivated other countries to establish national bodies for scientific ethics. Some academic journals like Croatian Medical Journal appointed editors that only deals with scientific integrity. World editors went ahead and formed Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) that has promoted scientific integrity by providing guidance and suggestions of scholars and editors whenever a fraudulent act is suspected hence acceptance of the papers for publication (Wong-Parodi & Strauss, 2014).

References

Berger, R. L. (1994). Ethics in scientific communication: a study of a problem case. Journal of medical ethics, 20(4), 207-211.

Donev, D. (2013). Principles and ethics in scientific communication in biomedicine. Acta Informatica Medica, 21(4), 228.

Wong-Parodi, G., & Strauss, B. H. (2014). Team science for science communication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(Supplement 4), 13658-13663.