STAT1201: Analysis of Scientific Data – Semester 1, 2025 Paper Review – Ethics Guidelines Objective The ethics

STAT1201: Analysis of Scientific Data – Semester 1, 2025

Paper Review – Ethics Guidelines

Objective

The ethics component of the paper review requires students to demonstrate their understanding of ethical issues and challenges in scientific studies, as covered in ethics lectures, tutorials, and web learning content. Students must also show their ability to write clearly, concisely, and precisely.

Word Limit

• Maximum: 500 words (excluding citations and bibliography)
• Strict penalty for exceeding the limit (no +10% leeway)

Essay Requirements

• Choose a scientific study involving human or animal subjects, as these tend to raise the most ethical concerns.
• Do not use: Retrospective studies (re-analysis of existing data) or meta-analyses (collating and analyzing data from other studies). Doing so will result in a 3-mark deduction.
• It is your responsibility to understand the marking criteria and requirements before submission. If uncertain, seek clarification in tutorials.

Essay Topic

Write a philosophical ethics essay addressing the most significant ethical concerns related to your chosen article. Answer one or more of the following questions:

1. Ethical Issues in the Study
   • Does the study raise any ethical concerns?
   • Describe one or two key issues and propose the appropriate ethical response.
2. Human Experimental Subjects
   • Were human subjects involved?
   • Was the experimentation ethical?
   • Did participants provide informed consent, and was it sufficient?
3. Animal Use in the Study
   • Were animals used, and were they treated humanely?
   • If suffering or death occurred, was it justified by the study’s benefits?
4. Scientific Integrity
   • If the researchers had chosen to falsify, manipulate, or misrepresent their data, what methods could they have used?
   • Why would such actions be unethical?

Philosophy Essay Requirements

A philosophy essay differs from other academic writing styles. Ensure your essay follows these principles:

1. Use the First-Person Perspective
   • State your opinion clearly (e.g., "I believe Bloggs' argument is flawed because...").
   • Philosophy involves both facts and value judgments, requiring a personal stance.
2. Support Arguments with Logical Reasoning
   • Clearly state your premises (factual claims or value judgments).
   • Ensure conclusions logically follow from the premises.
   • Avoid relying on private spiritual beliefs or extreme positions that may not resonate with readers.
3. Ensure Clarity
   • Clearly explain the study’s facts and ethical implications.
   • Demonstrate how your premises support your conclusion.
4. Acknowledge Assumptions
   • State when you are making an assumption about a factual matter.
5. Use Proper Referencing
   • Cite scholarly sources for non-trivial factual claims.
   • Use a standard referencing style (e.g., Harvard style).
   • Clearly indicate borrowed ideas, quotations, and paraphrased content to avoid plagiarism.
6. Maintain Academic Writing Standards
   • Use formal language, correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
   • Avoid slang, emoticons, or informal expressions.

Suggested Structure for the Ethics Review

1. Introduction and Summary of the Study
   • Briefly describe the study’s objective, methodology, and key findings.
   • Focus on aspects relevant to your ethical analysis (e.g., human/animal involvement, consent, risks).
2. Thesis Statement
   • Clearly state your ethical stance (e.g., "This study was ethically sound except for a few issues.").
3. Methodological and Ethical Concerns
   • Discuss ethical issues related to methodology, data integrity, or participant treatment.
   • Consider how ethical lapses might impact the study’s credibility and societal implications.
4. Ethical Analysis
   • Apply ethical theories (e.g., Kantian ethics, utilitarianism).
   • Support arguments with logical reasoning and scholarly references.
5. Conclusion
   • Summarize key ethical concerns and your final judgment on the study’s ethicality.
   • Avoid unnecessary broad conclusions (e.g., "For centuries, science has struggled with ethical dilemmas.").

Criteria and Marking

• Ethical reasoning and clarity: Demonstrate a well-supported ethical analysis.
• Logical argumentation: Ensure clear premises and conclusions.
• Clarity and readability: Explain technical terms and arguments in an accessible way.
• Use of course concepts: Apply relevant moral philosophy theories.
• Academic integrity: Proper citation and avoidance of plagiarism.

Essay Writing Process

1. Pre-Writing
   • Read your chosen article carefully.
   • Identify key ethical concerns and factual questions.
   • Research any technical terms or concepts.
2. Outline Your Essay
   • Organize your arguments logically before writing.
   • Ensure a clear thesis statement and structured argumentation.
3. Drafting and Editing
   • Write each section with clarity and precision.
   • Redraft after a few days to refine your argument.
4. Final Review
   • Read your essay critically or have someone else review it.
   • Ensure ethical conclusions are well-supported.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

• Do not merely state ethical concerns—explain and analyze them.
• Clearly describe the study before presenting ethical arguments.
• Use moral philosophy concepts from the course.
• Stay focused on the chosen article—do not generalize to the entire field.
• Use high-quality academic sources, avoiding biased websites.

Final Considerations

• If your chosen article lacks ethical dilemmas, consider answering Q4 on scientific integrity.
• Cost-effectiveness is always a relevant ethical consideration.
• Ethical reviews may conclude that a study was entirely ethical—if so, explain why.

For further guidance, refer to Criteria and Standards for Ethics Essay at the end of this document.

For referencing styles, visit: UQ Library Referencing Guides.