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Interesting Lectures and Seminars

“An Introduction to Research Ethics”
—”Easy to Understand Research Ethics” Coordinated by Professor Tomoaki Tsuchida—

Toyoko Nakahara
2nd Year Student in the Master’s Program of the Faculty of Human Sciences

The “Introduction to Research Ethics” course run by Professor Tomoaki Tsuchida systematically tidied up the “mist covered mountain” of the world of research ethics, tied the ends together and helped me to see the mountain. You feel various things regarding “research ethics” in research life. A student who handed his end of semester report to Professor A had half the report corrected and submitted to Professor B. Afterwards his colleagues also made partial alterations to their reports and submitted them to academic publications...I don’t think that is right. On top of that, my own writing had been quoted without my knowing. To have your work used in a way different from what was originally intended was a harrowing experience. I am an adult student with a job. If I produce a thesis combining knowledge and experience from work and research results from university, will the intellectual property rights of the results be returned to all the organizations I am affiliated with.?

By taking “An Introduction to Research Ethics”, I found the solutions to this “hazy feeling” and the questions of “Why?” as well as become able to understand the above problem. The curriculum format coordinated by Professor Tsuchida especially led to a smooth understanding. It was an attractive course, with a team of top professors being selected for specific topics. We were introduced to many true examples of data fabrication and alterations, and plagiarism of other people’s works and ideas.

Not only for graduation and Master’s theses writing, if you can understand the concept of research ethics, you can find a suitable solution for when the problem, “What should I do n this situation?” arises in report writing. You can also reflect on your own intellectual production / reproductions by asking yourself, “Is this really all right?” You can also notice this in “ethical experiences” in everyday life and society. You can think about many societal repercussions such as, “Is my personal information being protected?” or “Is there a privacy protection agreement with the analysis company?” when recommended to take a total physical examination, or has research by certain organizations simply been subcontracted to outside parties. This is a course I hope all students will take at university.

“On Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct in Research”(Third Edition)

National Academy of Sciences of the United States(Author)(Translated by Ryo Ikenouchi)
Kagakudojin(Publisher)1400 yen(tax not included)
ISBN 9784759814286(March 31, 2010)

“ORI:Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research”

Nicholas H. Steneck(Author)
Diane Pub Co(Publisher)
ISBN 978-1422300787(15 April, 2007)
(Available at the following URL)

http://ori.hhs.gov/documents/rcrintro.pdf

(Offered by WASEDA WEEKLY)