Ethics and Status: Value Dilemmas in the Professional Conduct of Social Science

In: International social science journal: ISSJ, Band 27, Heft 4, S. 563-611

Abstract

Essential portions of a report prepared for UNESCO are presented. Reactions by social scientists to dilemmas related to the risks & benefits of research have resulted in 'the applied professional model' which consists of an explicit set of codes & penalties for noncompliance. A survey of over 300 national associations of anthropologists, economists, political scientists, psychiatrists, psychologists, & sociologists obtained from international associations was undertaken in 1973 & 1974. 24 responded with codes of ethics, & a composite code was developed by listing all unique statements relating to the conduct of research. The same was done for problems associated with the use of scientific findings, based on the 5 codes of the 24 which included such provisions. Both sets of principles are presented. Little attention was given to sanctions, which limits the use of the applied professional model as an appropriate control model. Some of the problems associated with the model stem from innate differences between applied professionals & scientific investigators. As an alternative, a research protocol-licensed investigator procedure is proposed, which concludes Part I of the report. Part II discusses 3 interrelated issues: (1) different ways in which mankind may not realize benefits from scientific knowledge or in some way be harmed by it, (2) the scientist's responsibility for benefits foregone or harm produced, & (3) the ability of scientists to apply control mechanisms to minimize benefits foregone or harm when scientific knowledge is applied to specific situations. Part III discusses the interrelationships between the scientific enterprise & societal decision-makers. Both structural relationships & values are included, with some emphasis on matters arising from incongruence between political values of scientific investigators & decision-makers. 1 Table, 1 Appendix. J. N. Mayer.